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The Wi-Fi Cameras are Coming

Vcullen writes "This week will see many 'new' digicams released at CES but few will be more than cosmetic tweaks and updates on current models. However Kodak have just announced something new (for them) - a Wi-Fi enabled digital camera that enables online photo sharing and viewing without the need for a computer. It also has 256MB of internal memory and stores up to 1500 images." Of course, to actually get on a wireless network, a special card is required for the camera, and the firmware has yet to support WEP, so one has to wait until a Q3 2005 update to join most authenticated networks.

21 of 137 comments (clear)

  1. yay! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    finally I can peep on chicks better!

  2. 1500 images? by thesatch · · Score: 4, Insightful

    maybe if they're the size of postage stamps...

    1. Re:1500 images? by LiquidCoooled · · Score: 3, Informative

      ahem, its the online picture service:

      "..people can upload the pictures and videos for near instantaneous electronic sharing with friends around the world.

      On-the-spot sharing of up to 1,500 favorite pictures, synchronized with a person's PC-based picture collection..."

      The camera itself has 256mb of memory, so it will fit a reasonable amount of pictures on, you choose your favorites and upload them to kodak.

      You can then steer your family and friends and anyone interested to the site - instantly, certainly cuts out the initial middlestep.

      Not a bad idea if you ask me, its like iTunes and the iPod in reverse.

      --
      liqbase :: faster than paper
  3. Great by DrKyle · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Now I don't have to stop and swap cards when they get full, but swap batteries because I'm constantly uploading them to my server.

  4. No WEP? by magefile · · Score: 5, Funny

    No WEP? It'll be like wireless X10 - you'll be able to see whatever your neighbor is taking pictures of. This could be a good thing, heh.

    1. Re:No WEP? by tuxter · · Score: 3, Funny

      Depending on the aesthetic value of your neghbour/neighbours choice of mating partner, yes. Let's hope mom and pop turn the Wi-Fi off for the sake of their offspring.

  5. Hardly a first by redback · · Score: 4, Informative

    canon already have wireless adapters for their high end cameras

    hardly a first

  6. Real Question by ZiakII · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The real question is with they be bannked in Saudi Arabia like camera phones where?

  7. I found my next phonecam... by `Sean · · Score: 4, Funny
  8. Too easy. by Forge · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This is in the relms of "That's so obvius, the guy who patented it died laughing" :).

    I mean a wifi camera is neaded by a lot of people. Let's say you are a jurnalist and want to take pictures where it's not exactly alowed. With wifi, the pics can get out imediatly so that if someone takes your camera to destroy incriminating pics you can let them have it (while recording that "transaction" too).

    --
    --= Isn't it surprising how badly I spell ?
  9. Wonderful idea! by ZeeExSixAre · · Score: 5, Insightful
    This could link up very well with a pocket-sized hard drive unit sitting in a pocket or photographer's vest. The pictures would automatically be downloaded to the hard drive while shooting. Since 1GB drives are pretty much the norm for shooting (with the exception of the 4GB flash drives), and photos can run upwards of 15-20MB/photo in RAW, this would be a photojournalists/sports photographer's dream not to have to switch out cards every 50 or 80 pictures. This is definitely something to consider, especially when many high-end cameras can take 8 pictures/second in burst mode, with a buffer able to hold 30 or more pictures before writing to flash.

    Average Joe would not only benefit greatly by not needing to connect cables to the computer to transfer files, but this is likely to open up a digital convergence gateway where cameras, computers, and phones can transfer photos to each other. We all know that media sharing has become the next big thing, not just in P2P, but in a hardware sense, too.

    Think about it - how many times have you taken pictures at a party with your digicam, and your friends ask you, "I want a copy of that pic!" Now you can without batting an eye!

  10. Bluetooth!! by sr180 · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Wifi is nice, but I just want bluetooth on my Camera, that way in the field, I could email photos via my bluetooth phone.

    Very useful for those working in the field needing to get photos back to the office.

    --
    In Soviet Russia the insensitive clod is YOU!
  11. the best web camera DOES run Linux!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    and, it's been around for a while, AND has ALWAYS had WiFi ... and you won't believe what this multisession, multiuser camera can do. Too bad they don't have the marketing clout the Big Boyz do, but that is how it goes I guess. I don't know what I would do without the six I have... exactly what was needed and still going great http://www.iqeye.com

  12. Re:Why is this better than a cellphone? by mboverload · · Score: 4, Informative
    becuause the cameras in phones suck.

    The aperature is too damn small, everything comes out grainy, blured, and the quality is just plain crappy.

  13. Obvious Solution - Wardriving by drewzhrodague · · Score: 3, Funny

    You could perhaps take pictures of the areas you are wardriving with your camera. Go figure, it's the obligatory wardriving post.

    --
    Zhrodague.net - I do projects and stuff too.
  14. nothing to see here by Maskirovka · · Score: 4, Informative
    The EASYSHARE-ONE redefines what is possible with a digital camera

    Consumer camera yes, but Kodak is hardly the first to wifi in a digital camera.

  15. It's not quite the same thing... by FuturePastNow · · Score: 4, Interesting

    but Linksys has been selling wi-fi webcams for a while now: http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?grid=3 3&scid=38&prid=650

    --
    Give a man fire, and you warm him for the night. Set a man on fire, and you warm him for the rest of his life.
  16. WIFI features.. by FUF · · Score: 4, Interesting

    With 802.11, there'll be quite some bandwith available for these cameras to use... so I see no reason why the following feature request(s) (HUGE points on my wishlist as a professional photographer for a long time now) should be hard to implement.

    The cameras (after obtaining ip's, dhcp or static) should have a running webserver that streams video of exactly what the camera's lcd would display, A web-lcd per se. There should also be COMPLETE functionality of the ALL the camera's functions tied into controls on the web application. Basically, if you can use a function on the physical interface, it should be available for use over the air as well.

    Is this too much to ask? :-)

  17. Megapixels are a dumb consumer selling point. by i41Overlord · · Score: 4, Informative

    i just recently saw one with a 2 mega pixel camera in it, and i'm sure it's only a matter of time until we see great quality 4 mega pixel cameraphones (4 megapixels seems to be the break point for cheapish snapshot digital photos).

    The megapixel count seems to be the big selling point to uneducated consumers. They think that the more megapixels, the better the camera. But in actuality the quality of the picture doesn't usually depend on the pixel count. You can have a crappy lens and a 99 megapixel sensor behind it, and you're going to get a very big blurry, distorted picture. Also, if the sensor is not a very good one, you'll get a picture made of a lot of washed out pixels.

    Take an older high end camera where they put effort into giving it a quality lens and quality sensor and compare it to a heavily marketed modern camera with lots o' megapixels. The difference in picture quality will speak for itself. There are lots of 5 mp cameras nowadays, but lots of them still take crappy pictures. They're just BIG crappy pictures.

  18. GPS by marmite · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Who cares about WiFi on digital cameras?

    I want GPS coordinates in an exif tag (or something).

    --
    I do not represent myself.
  19. Toilet Cam technology has had this for years by Zen+Programmer · · Score: 3, Funny

    I've been using Wi-Fi for my toilet cams since 2001. Prior to wireless it was really a hassle to have to retrieve the tapes after they had been dumped on for a few days. Now it's walk in, drop in a cam, order a Filet-O-Fish, sit down, open my laptop and watch the show ;).