Tag: Camera

Apple Patent For Location Sharing

Location Sharing is one of latest technologies recently released into the mainstream by Google in the form of Latitude, last year Google tried to put the application on the iPhone but Apple rejected the app, maybe this patent shows the reasoning behind that.

Apple’s method of location sharing involves sending SMS messages between phones. The message would be encoded in such a way that the phone can then extract your current location. Locating sharing is only part of the package — another patent titled ‘position fix indicator’ focuses on ways of displaying the user’s location, and the location of people that you’re connected with.

The diagram also seems to suggest a forward-facing camera, something that was speculated for the iPhone 3GS but turned out false, perhaps meaning the iPhone 4G will have this feature. It’s possible the diagram is just a placeholder (it looks identical to the one used in other patents), but it could be indicative of a forward-facing camera in the iPhone 4G arriving later this year.

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iPhone 4G To Have 5 Megapixel Camera With LED Flash?

OmniVision technologies has secured a deal with Apple for 5-megapixel camera sensors for the upcoming next-geniPhone. Sources report that OmniVision Technologies is expected to supply Apple with 40-45 million 5 megapixel sensors in 2010.

It’s reported that Apple is looking for a large quantity of LED camera flash components, suspected for the upcoming iPhone. Apple is seeking tens of millions of LED camera flash components for delivery in the 2010 calendar year, to go with the 5 megapixel camera sensors perhaps?

The same sources believe that the Philips’ Lumileds Lighting sector may have already secured the contract, and it’s thought that Apple will use the Philips LUXEON LED camera flash technology which combines the brightness of regular lighting with the long life and tiny size of LEDs.
Another interesting piece of information is that this flash is usually used with 5 megapixel or above camera sensors, which would confirm the use of 5 megapixel camera sensors in the new model.

More New iPod Touch & iPod Nano Cases Leaked

Over the last few weeks a lot of case designs have been leaking out to the internet, appearing to be for a new iPod Touch and iPod Nano with camera.

iPod Cases

The new cases seem to look quite similar in hole positions as the previously leaked ones but these still may not be authentic. However if they are then we should see the announcement of a new iPod Touch and iPod Nano with photo/video recording, sometime around September per Apple’s usual release pattern.

iPod With Camera Looking More Likely?

You will remember as the iPhone 3GS rumours were flying around that some mock-up pictures were sent out of what an iPod Nano would look like with a camera.

iPod Nano 5g Case

But now things are looking even more likely as now we have the first cases with matching camera cut-outs for the iPod Nano in addition to an iPod Touch case with similar cut-outs that have been leaked on the internet. This morning TechCrunch is claiming that a “massive number of camera modules” for iPods have been ordered per information provided by a source in Asia. Take this all to be true and we should see the announcement of a new iPod Touch and iPod Nano with photo/video recording, sometime around September per Apple’s usual release pattern.

iPod Touch Cases:

iPod Touch Camera Case 2

iPod Touch Camera Case