Now don’t worry this blog is not turning into somekind of mobile review site – but I am in a ‘mobile-converged-device’ mode at the moment, combined with ‘media journey’ ontology – a sad mix. But without getting hung up on convergent or divergent semantics, here is a device (I shall reveal in a moment) that heralds a new direction and era for creatives who are working in ‘media journey’ arenas. The problem historically with mobile devices is that 1) they are pretty low on storage to carry all the stuff you want with you 2) the quality of video and photos is poor and (3) (why do things come in 3’s?) it is often a pain to show stuff on a bigger screen.
That is why at the moment ‘diverged tech’ people often have at least 4 devices – 1-iPod (MP3, video, pics) 2-Mobile phone for comms 3-Digi camera for good quality stills 4-PDA for contacts, calendars, web stuff, docs…the creative possibilities of having all of the above in one device for creatives, producers who cannot get their heads around a multi-tude of devices each with a bewildering array of functions will be very useful. If we know as producers that in 5-10 years time everyone will have a connected device that does everything all the separate items do at the moment well…
OK so you want a connected tri-band, GPRS/Edge to communicate with the world. You also want that device to come with a 10 megapixel camera to take real high quality photos, and of course a video camera. You need at least 8GB internal storage keep all that stuff you will be capturing. Then of course connect it directly to the TV, oh and bluetooth, MP3 playback etc etc: Well here it is (and no there is no sponsorship going on here;-) !
Samsung have just announced (press release called ‘world’s first (naturally!) on mobique) the SCH-B600. Sadly it will be launched first in South Korea mid 06 – so perhaps Australia will get it sometime in 2008! Some bits from the release:
Samsung’s B600 sets itself apart from its previous megapixel cameraphones by combining the mobile TV technology with the 10 megapixel camera. The B600 offers the same level of picture-taking sophistication that a 10 megapixel digital camera offers and mobile TV capability in Satellite standard.
Moving pictures can be recorded in QVGA resolution at 15-30 frames per second. Users can watch live TV in crisp picture through Satellite DMB function. The mobile phone supports a TV-out function where users can connect their phones to view still or motion pictures.
Also, the B600 comes fitted with a LED autofocus feature, the first time ever for a cameraphone. It also has the “Anycall Band” feature, where each person using this phone can play a specific melody of instruments and arrange it together to create a song for downloading.
It also supports Bluetooth functions, through which users can listen to their MP3 files, enjoy DMB and communicate with other people wireless via Bluetooth headset. The photo-fine chromarich LCD can reproduce 16 million colours, virtually any colour found in nature, earning it the “True Colour” appellation.
Posted by Gary Hayes ©2006
