Ten O'Clock Tech: Big
Pictures, Small Packages
By Arik Hesseldahl
There's something about small cameras that grabs people.
Tiny handheld cameras that can be easily concealed and that capture
images of top secret documents are always a favorite prop in spy movies.
Soon you'll be able to join in on the fun with your own tiny camera.
SMaL Camera Technologies, of Cambridge, Mass., has created its Ultra
Pocket compact and affordable entry-level camera.
The first thing you'll notice about the device is its size: about as big as the
credit card you'll use to pay for it. Only two-tenths of an inch thick, it can
take pictures of 3,640 pixels by 480 pixels--less than a top-of-the-line digital
camera, but perfect for quick snapshots when image quality isn't as
important.
The camera also boasts the ability to cope with difficult lighting conditions.
Its Autobrite technology adapts to its environment, ensuring that bright
regions of the image never become saturated, while keeping dark details in
focus.
It can store up to 40 images on the included MultiMedia removable flash
memory card, and connects to your PC via the universal serial bus port. You
can also store more pictures on bigger cards, which are sold separately. And
each time you connect the camera to a PC, its lithium-ion battery is
recharged.
The company is working with a handful of major camera manufacturers to
bring the camera to market in time for Christmas. But it will probably show
up on store shelves under the brand name of the manufacturer, not SMaL.
The expected price is about $130. Initially, it will be PC-compatible only, but
the company says there's a good chance that a version for the Mac and
Linux may follow soon after. |
