I’ve always wanted to just be able to snap a picture whenever I wanted to, without having my friends freeze their smiles on their faces until the focus was complete. And now, that’s a possibility. The new Lytro pocket-sized cameras let you snap pictures whenever you want, letting you focus on whatever you want, later.

How it works, you wonder. Well, apparently the Lytro camera captures all the light rays flowing in its direction, an average of about 11 million, and captures the scene in “four dimensions”, unlike any other camera out there.

So, you, or someone else you share you picture with will be able to refocus and explore the entire scene from different vantage points after you’ve already taken the photo.

Considering the possibilities it offers, the $399 asked for an 8 GB unit (capable of storing 350 pictures) and $499 for the 16 GB unit, don’t seem that much.

Cameras can be preordered at lytro.com and they’re expected out in early 2012, much to the delight of those of us who are eager to try it out.

The post Shoot First Focus Later: Lytro Light Field Camera Has “Four Dimensions” appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

Microsoft has certainly seen brighter days in the mobile realm. Windows Mobile has very much fallen into the background with the rise of iOS and Android. Well, Windows Phone 7 could turn things around for Ballmer and crew. Better yet, it’s finally here and you can get your hands on it right now.

Over at Rogers Wireless, they’ve picked up the Canadian exclusive to the Samsung Focus, a Windows Phone 7 device that comes loaded with some very impressive hardware. Beyond the Windows Phone 7 Live Tiles and Hubs, you get a massive 4-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen. The incredible contrast of Super AMOLED very much lends itself to the UI on WP7.

Other highlights include HSPA connectivity, Bluetooth, 5.0-megapixel camera, 9.9mm slim profile, 8GB internal memory, integrated social networking, Bing Maps, GPS, Wi-Fi, and more. I’m not sure if I like the capacitive touch keys for the back, Windows, and search buttons, but the rest of the spec falls in line with the Windows Phone 7 standard put out by Microsoft.

Rogers is selling the Samsung Focus for $199.99 on a three-year plan. If you want Windows Phone 7 and don’t want Rogers, the other majors in Canada are doing WP7 too. Bell has the LG Optimus Quantum, whereas Telus has the LG Optimus 7 and HTC 7 Surround. All three are $99.95 on a three-year, half the price of the Focus with Rogers.

[Rogers]

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