The software on Motorola’s upcoming Atrix 4G has already been subject to some stern (and premature) scrutiny, but here’s some rather more concrete information about it, courtesy of the company’s own spec page for the device. As it turns out, Moto intends to launch the Atrix with some of its hardware capabilities clipped — specifically its Tegra 2-derived power to encode 1080p content — but will deliver them to users in an update (hopefully soon) thereafter. LG’s Optimus 2X, which is built around the same dual-core chip from NVIDIA, has been spending its time before launch showing off exactly what those 1080p encoding skills can deliver — both with video recording and through its HDMI connection — so it’ll be a downer for Moto fans to learn that their hallowed new superphone won’t be able to match up at launch. Then again, when we think about how often phone makers fail to tap the full potential of their hardware, maybe we should just be happy that 1080p abilities are coming to the Atrix at all, eh?
Renesas has outed its latest high-resolution cameraphone CMOS sensor SoC, capable of processing 16-megapixel image capture and Full HD video recording on a smartphone or mobile device. The Renesas CE150 supports image stabilization, smile detection and object tracking, as well as 15fps shooting of 13-megapixel stills.
The company expects the CE150 to go into mass production in March, with manufacturer samples already available now. No word on which manufacturers might be signing up, but hopefully they’ll do the sensible thing and pair the Renesas sensor – and the high-res CMOS it will work with – with some decent optics as well.
Update: We originally reported the CE150 as a CMOS, whereas it’s in fact an ARM-based SoC for use as a camera engine. Thanks to James for the clarification!
Samsung has outed its latest digital camcorder, the HMX-Q10, a Full HD model featuring the company’s “Switch Grip” which uses an accelerometer to flip the screen display depending on which way up you’re shooting. The Samsung HMX-Q10 supports 1080/60i HD or 720p HD, along with 4.9-megapixel stills.
Physical controls are limited to a record button and zoom ring; everything else is handled by the 2.7-inch touchscreen. There’s optical image stabilization, Smart Auto scene selection and Record Pause, for pausing continuous filming of a single clip.
A few manual settings round things out, including white balance, exposure and backlighting, as well as a few others, though this is really more a point-and-shoot. The Samsung HMX-Q10 will drop in February 2011, priced at $299.
Press Release:
Samsung Innovation Makes Capturing Video Easier Than Ever with the Practical and Affordable Full HD HMX-Q10 Camcorder
Samsung innovation creates simple and intuitive controls for effortless recording
CES, Las Vegas – January 3, 2011 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, today announced the launch of the latest model in its camcorder portfolio, the HMX-Q10. The HMX-Q10 has been designed to highlight Samsung’s full HD camcorder technology with a BSI CMOS sensor, and makes recording movies easier than ever before, using ground-breaking technology and smart features such as its innovative Switch Grip technology. As a new addition to the Samsung line-up for 2011, the HMX-Q10’s Easy Operation and Smart Access user interface (UI) makes Samsung’s innovations in video capture more accessible than ever, allowing everyone to record excellent quality video.
Samsung has created the HMX-Q10 to be a compact, practical and easy-to-use full HD camcorder that combines the best in Samsung innovation with incredibly simple functions, all available at an affordable price. The HMX-Q10 combines the world’s first Switch Grip with Easy Operation via an LCD screen. The Switch Grip means that no matter how the camcorder is held, the G-magnetic sensor inside the HMX-Q10 recognizes the angle and turns the LCD display so it’s easy to see, and controls recording easily from any angle. Easy Operation means that users can control detailed processes, turn the camcorder on and off and operate the playback function easily through the LCD screen, so controlling the device is intuitive and fuss-free, and viewing footage is as easy as capturing it. The HMX-Q10 also features a prominently placed record button that makes capturing video extremely simple, and straightforward. The slim and durable body also means that the HMX-Q10 is compact and light enough to be taken anywhere, and the product is so versatile it can also double as a 4.9 Megapixel (MP) still photo camera.
The HMX-Q10 sets the tone for the Samsung 2011 camcorder range, and raises the bar for affordable and easy-to-use camcorders built on the latest cutting-edge technology. The camcorder is the product of years of Samsung expertise in digital imaging, and is based on detailed customer insight research, revealing that simplicity and affordability are a key priority for an increasing number of camcorder users.
“The launch of the HMX-Q10 is particularly important for us as it is one of the best demonstrations of Samsung’s continuing innovation, providing high performing features and design in a model that makes the best camcorder experience available to all our customers,” said Mr. Hyunho Chung, Executive Vice President and Head of the Digital Imaging Business, Samsung Electronics. “For example, we have developed the world’s first Switch Grip technology so that the HMX-Q10 adapts to the consumer’s lifestyle and setting – not the other way around. In addition, Easy Operation via the LCD and Smart Access UI takes the confusion out of recording, so that you can instantly record brilliant movies from the very first time you pick up the camcorder without the need for an instruction manual.”
The world’s first Switch Grip (either-handed grip)
As a brand-new addition to the Samsung camcorder portfolio, the HMX-Q10 is built around the needs of the consumer who wants to capture their movies without fuss or complication. Samsung has developed the world’s first Switch Grip technology, which ensures that when filming, the LCD screen adapts to how the camcorder body is being held. Whether you are left- or right-handed, shooting in difficult positions or combining recording film with other activities, you can always maintain perfect control over your video. The body of the HMX-Q10 has also been streamlined and made more compact so it can easily be carried anywhere.
Intuitive Easy Operation for ease of use
The HMX-Q10 includes a brand new Easy Operation and Smart Access UI that makes using the camcorder easier to use than ever before. Featuring an intuitive and clearly visible record button, the HMX-Q10 offers the best and most convenient operating system on the market, as it eliminates the need to have many separate buttons and keys to control the camcorder. Easy Operation via the 2.7” wide LCD screen allows the user to perform a variety of functions, including a pause function allowing you to stop and work out the best angle for your recording experience, the ability to turn the camcorder on and off, and playback mode so users can immediately review their footage. The camcorder’s intuitive Smart Access UI feature grants users the opportunity to operate the camcorder’s advanced functions and manage detailed processes with ease.
The best in high-quality video
The Samsung HMX-Q10 is based on quality components and functions to help consumers capture brilliant, clear videos in astonishing quality, effortlessly and regardless of the situation. The HMX-Q10 captures video in 1920×1080/60i full HD, and includes an OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) Duo system to compensate for hand-shaking better than ever before, creating a stable, clear video every time – even when walking or moving around. The HMX-Q10’s features also include a 5MP BSI CMOS sensor, which records with twice the sensitivity of normal CMOS sensors, dramatically reducing noise and distortion while also enhancing recording quality in low-light conditions, so great quality video can be captured in any situation.
The HMX-Q10 also features an upgraded version of Samsung’s Smart Auto scene recognition technology, which analyzes key elements of the composition of the footage such as brightness, motion, color and subject and then selects the most appropriate settings to produce the best results possible. For the HMX-Q10, Samsung Record Pause technology has also been introduced, allowing the user to take brief pauses in filming before re-starting, so they don’t need to merge files when finished. This allows for easier editing and makes the HMX-Q10 perfect for filming at sports events or parties. In addition to great movie functions, the HMX-Q10 can also capture 4.9MP still photos, giving users the ability to capture brilliant snapshots without the need to carry a camera. With the intuitive LCD touch screen, powered by the new Smart Access UI, users can record and review their videos easily and enjoyably.
Users can also choose to adopt more manual control. With the HMX-Q10’s Easy Manual Mode setting, users can access and calibrate the entire breadth of easy-to-use manual features (White Balance, Exposure Values, Backlighting, Self Timer, and C.Nite) through the intuitive interface. The new Art Film function also means that video can be captured in more creative ways, using special effects such as Time Lapse and Black & White, making video recording fun and easy.
Panasonic’s AG-AF100 micro-four-thirds camcorder has begun shipping, with the interchangeable lens camera offering native 1080/24p recording for $4,995. The AF100 can record up to 12 hours of footage across two 64GB SDXC cards in PH mode, as well as capturing 2-megapixel stills, and supports ISO 200 to 3200, variable frame rates in 20 steps from 12p to 60p at 60Hz or from 12p to 50p at 50Hz, and can use regular micro-4/3 lenses from still cameras.
Onboard are stereo microphones, but the AF100 also has two mic/lines and twin XLR inputs with phantom power. Other ports include an uncompressed 4:2:2, 8 Bit HD-SDI output, HDMI out and USB 2.0. It’ll shoot for up to 4hrs on a single charge.
Not cheap, then, but considering all you’re getting we’re not surprised that pro and prosumer cinematographers are excited at what the AF100 brings to the table. It’ll have to be good, too; Sony recently unveiled its 3D pro camcorder, which promises similar lens flexibility sometime in 2011.
Press Release:
Panasonic Delivers AG-AF100, the Affordable Large Imager Cinema Camera
Advanced, Custom-Designed 4/3” Sensor Delivers Depth of Field and Field of View Similar to a 35mm Movie Camera; Camcorder Uses Low-Cost Still Camera and Film-Style Lenses
SECAUCUS, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Fulfilling the holiday wishes of filmmakers worldwide, Panasonic Solutions Company today begins deliveries of the AG-AF100, the industry’s first professional micro 4/3-inch video camcorder optimized for high-definition video recording. Available now at a suggested list price of $4,995, the AF100 offers a new level of affordability for HD motion image quality.
Targeted at the film and video production communities, the AF100 delivers film-like shallow depth of field and the wider field of view of a large imager, with the flexibility and cost advantages of a growing line of professional quality, industry-standard micro 4/3-inch lenses, filters, and adapters. The full HD 1080/720 production camera offers superior video handling, native 1080/24p recording, variable frame rates, professional audio capabilities, and compatibility with SDHC and SDXC media.
“The design of the AF100’s advanced, custom-designed 4/3-inch sensor affords depth of field and field of view similar to that of 35mm movie cameras in a more affordable camera,” said Jan Crittenden Livingston, Product Line Business Manager, Panasonic Solutions Company. “What’s more, Panasonic engineering ingenuity has resolved the aliasing and moiré that has haunted the DSLR shooter. In fact, the AF100 was based on what we heard from and saw customers doing: purchasing DSLR cameras because they liked the look of the image, but then agonizing over all of the workarounds required to achieve an acceptable high definition recording.”
The AF100 incorporates a large 4/3-inch, 16:9 MOS imager (with an imaging area just slightly smaller than 35mm cinema film) that minimizes skew with fast imager scanning, and incorporates an optical low pass filter for elimination of aliasing and moiré. The camcorder records 1080 at 60i, 50i, 30P, 25P (Native) and 24P (Native), and 720 at 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p and 24p native in AVCHD’s highest-quality PH mode (maximum 24Mbps). The AF100 also records in AVCCAM’s HA (17Mbps) and HE (6Mbps) modes, 1080i only. Ready for global production standards, the camcorder is 60Hz and 50Hz switchable. Equipped with an interchangeable micro 4/3-inch lens mount, the AF100 can utilize an array of low-cost, widely-available still camera lenses as well as film-style lenses with fixed focal lengths and primes.
Variable frame rates (VFR) are available in 1080p, selectable in 20 steps from 12p to 60p at 60Hz and 20 steps from 12p to 50p at 50Hz. The camcorder has a built-in stereo microphone and features two mic/lines, switchable XLR inputs with +48V Phantom Power capability. It can record 48-kHz/16-bit two-channel digital audio (in PH mode only) and supports LPCM/Dolby-AC3 in any of the modes.
This newest Panasonic AVCCAM camcorder is the first to enjoy the benefits of advanced SDXC media card compatibility in addition to existing SDHC card support. SDXC is the newest SD memory card specification that supports memory capacities above 32GB and up to 2TB. With two SD slots for continuous recording, the AF100 can record up to 12 hours on two 64GB SDXC cards in PH mode, with automatic clip spanning across the two cards. The AF100 offers still image capture as two megapixel (1920 x 1080) still images.
The AF100 features switchable FILM CAM and VIDEO CAM modes, with VFR operable in FILM CAM. The camcorder has a wide ISO gain setting range that allows sensitivity to be set between ISO 200 and ISO 3200 (in FILM CAM), or gain adjusted between 18 dB and-6 dB (in VIDEO CAM). It also offers a focus assist that can be used while recording, which is color-on peaking and a focus bar; area focus and area iris functions that facilitate recording when the subject is off-center; two sets of adjustable zebras; two manual black and white balance choices, and preset White Balance at 3200K, 5600K or variable; and a waveform monitor and vectorscope for more accurate monitoring of broadcast safe levels.
Weighing only 3.5 pounds (without lens or battery), the AF100 is packed with high-end features including Dynamic Range Stretch in all modes and frame rates; six built-in, customizable scene files that are exchangeable for quick and easy matching between multiple cameras; seven built-in gamma curves with four selectable color matrices; a built-in optical ND filter; adjustable shutter speed and Syncro-scan function; and a high-resolution, variable angle color LCD monitor and tiltable viewfinder.
Standard professional interfaces include uncompressed 4:2:2, 8 Bit HD-SDI out, HDMI out and USB 2.0. The AF100 records SMPTE timecode and is able to perform timecode synchronizing via the video output seeing timecode in, and has an internal down-converter facilitating output of SD (480/576) signals.
Other essential features include a wealth of solid-state recording modes (clip thumbnail display, pre-record, intervalometer function that can be set for up to 24 hours); three User Buttons that can be programmed with up to 14 functions each; a Smart Battery interface for recording up to four hours with a 5800mA battery (model VW-VBG6PPK); metadata recording; and a wireless infrared remote controller.
Panasonic will support the AG-AF100 with a three-year limited warranty (one year plus two extra years upon registration) upon registration of the camera with the PASS customer support program.
With cellphone cameras improving all the time, point-and-shoots have to aim high if they want to stand out of the crowd. Iain Sinclair’s Poco Pro certainly makes plenty of promises; tipped to launch in Q2 2011 for a bargain £200 ($308) or thereabouts, there’s a 14.6-megapixel sensor, 1080p HD video capture, a 2.4-inch AMOLED preview display and a microUSB 3.0 port for data and option HDMI output, all in a credit-card sized black-anodized magnesium chassis.
In fact the spec sheet is impressive all round, with only the dual-LED flash – rather than Xenon – being a low point. It’ll supposedly record stereo audio and support auto-focus and macro shots, while there’s an optional WiFi-enabled microSD card for throwing wireless into the mixture as well. That memory card slot boosts the 4GB of onboard storage.
It’s ambitious stuff, and we can’t help but suspect that the Poco Pro is trying to do too much at once. A 14-megapixel CMOS sensor of the small size required to fit into a 85.6 x 54 x 5 mm casing is probably not going to be great at dealing with normal lighting, and the £200 price tag seems over-ambitious. Iain Sinclair is taking £100 ($154) deposits on the first units now, but we’ll wait until the reviews come through before getting over-excited.
Panasonic Japan has outed a new HDTV, and if you’ve ever wished for an easy way to archive live TV without messing with a DVR then this could be the VIERA you’ve been waiting for. The Panasonic VIERA TH-L42G3 is a 42-inch set with an IPS LED-backlit Full HD display, but the clever stuff is in the SD card reader in the side. Rather than just allowing you to play back media, as with memory card slots on other HDTVs, this one lets you record it.
That slot will take SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards – up to 64GB in size – which is good enough for up to five hours of Full HD, 24Mbps video. Alternatively, there’s a USB port to which you can directly hook up an external drive, for even longer storage.
The only problem is that the media files the VIERA creates won’t apparently play on other TVs, computers or mobile devices, which seriously undermines the TH-L42G3′s usefulness as a way to get video onto your smartphone. Other features include an ethernet port for smart TV functionality, two HDMI ports, VIERA Link, video-on-demand connectivity and DLNA. It’ll drop in Japan come January 18 2011, priced at the equivalent of $1,800.
JVC’s 3D projector technology is among the best around, but until now the company hasn’t offered a straightforward way to record high-definition 3D content for it. All that could change at CES 2011; JVC is promising a new HD camcorder in January next year, using the world’s first LSI chip for high-speed image processing. The new JVC LSI chip is capable of recording Full HD, including both 2D and 3D images, and also 4K2K images that are roughly 4x Full HD resolution.
Built on 40nm manufacturing processes, the new LSI offers a 2.7x performance boost over JVC’s previous-gen chip; that opens the door to 8.3-megapixel video capture at 60fps, H.264 compression of 2.07-megapixel images at 60fps, and 8.3-megapixel JPEG image compression at 60fps. The single-chip solution is also cheaper and more frugal than the model it replaces, being half the price and reducing power consumption by 40-percent.
Although JVC isn’t giving any technical details on the camcorder it intends to debut at CES – it could well be a 2D-only model – the company’s emphasis on 3D with the new LSI seems to suggest that’s the direction it will take. That opens the door to MPEG-4 MVC 3D footage with separate Full HD 60fps images for each eye, in what JVC says will be both professional and consumer models.
Press Release:
JVC LSI Enables High-speed Image Processing in HD Camcorders
Yokohama, Japan, December 14, 2010 ? JVC (Victor Company of Japan, Limited) announced today its development of the world’s first LSI for high-speed processing of Full High-Definition video and stills on one chip for HD camcorders.
The LSI enables shooting and recording Full HD, including both 2D and 3D images, and also ultra-high-resolution 4K2K images of approximately four times the resolution of Full HD. High-speed photography with high-speed processing also is possible. The LSI achieves low power consumption and enables lower system costs by incorporating all image-processing technologies for HD shooting, including camera-signal processing and video/still image codecs.
Consumers are increasingly demanding HD-level TVs, camcorders and other consumer electronics products, requiring manufacturers to offer products capable of rapidly processing extra-high-resolution images of the latest standards, including 4K2K. JVC’s LSI will advance this trend by introducing next-generation image-processing technologies for both professional and consumer camcorders.
JVC will exhibit a new consumer camcorder with the LSI at the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada from January 6 to 9.
Main Features
High-speed processing of camera signals and video/still image codecs, including Full HD 2D/3D, 4K2K and high-speed photographs. In addition to 2.7 times faster processing than previous CPU, the new CPU supports various signal-processing technologies (see below) that have been fully revised for superior high-resolution image recording;
Signal processing
Camera-signal processing is 1.7 times faster than JVC’s previous technology, enabling 8.3-megapixel video at 60 frames per second;
H.264 video processing is double JVC’s previous technology, enabling compression of 2.07-megapixel images at 60 frames per second;
JPEG still-image processing is 5.5 times faster than JVC’s previous technology, enabling compression at up to 8.3-megapixel images at 60 frames per second;
In addition to its image-signal processor, advanced image codecs and other image-processing technologies assembled into one chip, the LSI incorporates leading-edge 40nm process technology for high functionality, 40% reduction of power consumption and 50% reduction of system costs compared to previous LSIs. The result is a high-level LSI suited to a wide range of both consumer and professional products;
All hardware and software is integrated into one platform, enabling products that incorporate this platform to be commercialized highly rapidly.
Main Technologies
1. The LSI achieves real-time 3D compression of separate Full HD images (1920 x 1080/60p) from right and left cameras using MPEG-4 MVC. The amount of data is double the conventional side-by-side 3D recording format, enabling high-resolution Full HD 3D images with one chip.
2. 4K2K images (3840 x 2160/60p) using an ultra-resolution camera system are supported.
3. High-speed camera-processing circuitry and a high-speed JPEG engine enable the simultaneous capture of Full HD video and 8.3 megapixel stills at 60 frames per second.
4. High-speed frame video capture for 3D recording at 300 frames per second based on high-speed video codec.
Ah, LG’s LU3000, the sprightly young thing that made the iPhone 4 and Galaxy S look a wee bit aged in some YouTube tests has now become official over in South Korea. It boasts a 1GHz TI OMAP3630 chip, allowing it to jot down 1080p video playback on its spec sheet, which in turn goes very nicely with the built-in HDMI port and DLNA wireless capabilities. A 3.8-inch screen offers an 800 x 480 resolution, there’s a 5 megapixel camera around the back, and a mildly skinned Android 2.2 performs the OS duties. Curiously enough, the LU3000′s home screen looks identical to the one on the leaked LG Star, suggesting that the stuff they’re running will represent LG’s default Android treatment for the near future. 800,000KRW ($705) buys you the 3000 when it ships in its native land a week from now, though there are apparently no plans to spread the wealth to other nations. Why so selfish, LG?
Wow. LG did say it’d bring some heat to its Android Optimus line and here’s our first look at it, folks! An 8 megapixel camera-wearing, 1080p video-recording, dual-core superphone to appease all the spec fanatics out there. Aimed for release early next year, as the very first dual-core Android handset, this device will finally bring NVIDIA’s Tegra 2 into the smartphone realm. Our tipster tells us it’s codenamed Star internally, though that’s certain to change in the final product nomenclature. You might think that massive Google logo on the back would imply stock Android and you’d be right — we’re told it’ll be a nearly untouched representation of the Google OS, though it’s still not clear which version it’ll be. We’ve also spotted a front-facing camera on the front, while the innards are said to include microSD memory expandability, microUSB connectivity, and a 1500mAh battery. Nexus who?
Warpia has updated its Easy Dock wireless display system, adding 1080p support to both HDTVs and monitors. The Warpia Easy Dock Pro allows you to stream HD video from a PC or Mac to a nearby display, with both screen mirroring and extending supported.
Both DVI and VGA outputs are present, and there are also two USB ports – for plugging in peripherals such as keyboard and mouse – together with a 3.5mm headphone jack for streaming audio. The transmitter is a simple USB dongle that plugs into your computer.
Up to 1920 x 1080 resolution is supported, and Warpia reckons that any content online should play; we’re guessing that means there are no DRM hassles, too. Best of all, it’s priced the same as its predecessor: $149.99.
Press Release:
Warpia Debuts Advanced Wireless Docking Station: The Easy Dock Pro
USB adapter wirelessly streams 1080P content from your laptop to your 25” monitor or HDTV
SAN JOSE, California – November 15, 2010 – Warpia, a company dedicated to bringing single-chip wireless USB solutions to the mainstream, is thrilled to announce the availability of the new and improved Easy Dock Pro. The Easy Dock Pro allows you to wirelessly connect a laptop to your desktop monitor, keyboard, mouse, and speakers, or to your big-screen TV in HD quality.
Unlike its predecessor, the Easy Dock, the Easy Dock Pro is capable of displaying any online content in stunning HD quality. Compatible with Mac or PC, it also supports monitors and other displays up to 25” with resolutions of 1920×1080 via a DVI or VGA connection. While the Easy Dock Pro does “mirror” your laptop screen, it also offers “extend mode” which allows you to operate two displays simultaneously, as if your TV were connected to your laptop. Its plug-and-play functionality is perfect for the digitally optimized home.
“The Easy Dock Pro creates a synergy between laptop work and play,” says Marc Levaggi, VP of Marketing for Warpia. “You can simultaneously work on an Excel spreadsheet while streaming Netflix on a larger TV or monitor. It also gives you the freedom to walk away with your laptop, and then reconnect to your desktop environment or TV by simply walking back into the room.”
The Warpia Easy Dock Pro can now be purchased on Amazon.com and on Warpia’s website for $149.99, which includes a one-year warranty. For more information or to purchase, please visit www.warpia.com.
About Warpia:
Warpia, a branch of Source R&D, is a premier technology brand specializing in wireless streaming of High Definition Audio & Video. Warpia provides sales opportunities for ODMs, resellers & retailers with unique products and superior customer support. For additional details, visit the Warpia website at www.warpia.com
JVC’s 
Warpia has updated its 