Imaging Beyond Pixels: Conference Updates

This blog post references my feature article 'Imaging Beyond Pixels: Enhancing The Elementary Picture' in EDN's March 15, 2007 edition.

As I predicted in my print article, this year's 3GSM World Congress and PMA conferences provided fruitful ground for examples of the imaging trends I highlighted in my writeup. Several other trends, which limited print pagecount precluded me from mentioning, include higher captured audio quality (exemplified by products such as Wolfson's WM8940 mono codec), image sensor self-cleaning, and live-view LCD monitoring.

Here are some of the announcements at the 3GSM and PMA shows that particularly caught my eye:

3GSM

• AMD Ushers in Breathtaking Multimedia for Mobile Devices with Next-Generation AMD Imageon™ Media Processors
• Micron Technology Aims to Perfect Camera Phone Pictures and Video with New Image Sensor Innovations
• NVIDIA Demonstrates 3D User Interface Concept For Handheld Devices
• NVIDIA To Make The Phone Your Most Personal Computer
• OmniVision Debuts 5 Megapixel Auto Focus Module (PDF)
• OmniVision Introduces First TrueFocus™ Camera Using Patented Wavefront Coding™ Technology (PDF)
• OmniVision Introduces 1/10 Inch VGA Camera Chip
• Samsung's 5.9mm thick (or, if you prefer, 'thin') Ultra Edition 5.9 (aka U100) mobile phone, complete with 3 Mpixel camera

PMA

• New 416 Megapixel Scanning Back from Better Light
• Canon's New PowerShot TX1 Digital Camera Packs "Best-Of" Breed Imaging And High Definition Innovation Into One Do-It-All Device
• Twenty Years Of The Canon EOS System Leads To This Moment: Canon Releases The EOS-1D Mark III Digital SLR
• FotoNation "Face Tracker" Available in Newest Pentax Camera
• Fotonation "FaceTracker" Now Available in Samsung Digital Cameras
• Ground-Breaking JVC Everio Hard Drive Camcorder Line Boosts Picture Quality And Convenience For 2007
• World’s First Full HD 1920×1080i Consumer Camcorder Joins JVC Everio Hard Drive Camcorder Line
• JVC Develops First Consumer Full HD Recording 3-CCD Camcorder System Featuring 16:9 Progressive Scan CCDs
• Micron Technology Expands Imaging Family with New High-Definition Sensors for Digital Cameras and Camcorders
• Microsoft Announces HD Photo, a New Imaging File Format With Advanced Features for Today’s Digital Photographers
• Nikon's New S Series Cameras Feature Stunning Style And Advanced Sharing Technologies
• OmniVision Introduces Single-Chip Color High Dynamic Range CameraChip Sensor (PDF)
• Pentax to Exhibit Upcoming Digital SLR Camera Products
• Sony Debuts Its First Wireless Cyber-Shot Digital Camera
• Texas Instruments Demonstrates D-SLR-Like Performance in Low-Cost, Point-and-Shoot Digital Still Cameras with DaVinci™ Technology
• Toshiba Develops DYNASTRON-WD™ Wide Dynamic Range Technology For CMOS Image Sensors; Will Enable Camera Phones To Capture More Image Detail In Both Bright Light And Deep Shadows
• Zoran Demonstrates New Generation Digital Camera Processors With Revolutionary Image Processing, DSLR-Grade Performance and High Definition Video Recording
• Zoran’s COACH Processors Power Over 50 Digital Camera Models On Display At PMA 2007 in Las Vegas