Think the Samsung Galaxy S4 is pretty great? Things are only getting started, as several variants could be one their way in the near future.  The newest of these rumored devices is the Galaxy S4 Zoom. 

It is a variant of the yet to be released S4 Mini, but this handset’s special niche is the fact is will boast a 16 MP rear facing camera, with 10x optical zoom.  I’ll give you a minute to re-read that, yes 10x optical zoom.  That blows the Nokia 808 PureView’s miniscule 3x zoom out of the water.  According to Unwired View, this variant arrived for certification at the Bluetooth SIG this week under the model number SM-C101.

Samsung is making a run at a majority market share with all its variations of their Galaxy S4s (at least if rumors are to be believed).  They have brought to the table the mini for those that don’t want such a large screen.  Also a variant that is similar to the Xperia Z, made to be rugged and withstand the worst conditions that can be thrown at you, and now the S4 Zoom which will have amateur shutterbugs doing backflips at the possibility.

Thus far optical zoom was really the only thing traditional cameras had over the previously limited point and shoot cameras in mobile phones.  This will pave the way for a new standard in mobile phone cameras if it takes off like I’m sure it will.

This variation is rumored to land soon, maybe even as early as June according to some of the circulating rumors.  Keep your eyes open for more info on this handset.  It will surely be a hit with users serious about photography and those casual snappers alike.  What do you think about the Zoom?  Is this a technology that you would like to see on your phone, or should it be left to the handheld camera market?

[ source ]

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The amateur shutterbug in us all have at one point or another wished we had one of those big zoom lens DSLRs to capture a nice eagle in the distance, a bit beyond the abilities of our point-and-shoot cameras don’t ya think?

Those days will be a thing of the past with Nikons launch of their Coolpix P series; including a Nikon Coolpix P-510 and Coolpix P-310.  The P-510, with its unprecedented super zoom (42x optical), doesn’t compromise image quality at all. Its Nikkor glass lens is capable of capturing action from a wide 24mm to an amazing 1000mm focal range and the 16.1 MP CMOS sensor will ensure nothing is lost in transit from the lens to the memory stick.

But zoom is the real selling feature of this model. The P510 replaces the P500 which has a zoom of 36X while the nearest competition in the segment, Canon’s Powershot SX40 HS comes with a 35x zoom. The P510 can also capture 1080 videos and its purpose-built supercharged image stabilizing system practically reduces blur to a minimum even with the zoom pushed to its limits.

The P310 on the other hand comes alive in the night. It tackles demanding low- light conditions with ease with a 16.1-megapixel backside Illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor and a fast f/1.8 maximum aperture lens.

Both the cameras are set to be out in the market by the middle of February with the P310 likely to cost around $350 USD while the P510 will come with a price tag of $430 USD.

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Zoom released its new H2N, a unique update to its portable recording line, replacing the H2, which debuted back in 2007. This recorder manages to pack in five studio-quality micropphones and multiple different recording modes such as stereo, 90-degree X/Y stereo, and 2 or 4 channel surround sound. The device also offers an improved user interface from its last incarnation, 20 hours of operation on just two AA batteries, and a data recovery function.

Beyond this you can even use the device directly to record to your PC. There are many cheap recorders out there, but the H2N has exceptional quality and many different recording modes that put it in a class of its own. Not everyone uses recorders these days, but for interviews and even uses like note-taking, a higher quality audio system can make all the difference in the world.

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Samsung has come out with point-and-shoots earlier which featured Wi-Fi,  the SH100 and the ST80 are two, but this is the first time that Wi-Fi has made its way into the new DualView camera style.  The Samsung DV300F, which comes equipped with a 1.5-inch front-facing LCD (will help with self-portraits), has a 3-inch rear-facing display, 5x optical zoom, a 7.76mm 16 Megapixel CCD sensor, and a 4.5-22.5mm, f4.5 lens.

The camera should perform well when there is good lighting, but the pictures won’t be that perfect in dim lighting conditions so prepare to be blasted with flash for those dimly lit nightclub photos were all too used to snapping. There is also an image stabilization system, most probably an electronic one which will help low light situations too.

Its most useful feature though, is the Wi-Fi connectivity.  It will allow users to upload images and video directly to online sharing sites including Facebook, Flickr, Picasa, and YouTube. You will also be able to wirelessly transfer images to a computer, and the camera integrates with Microsoft’s SkyDrive.

Other features include a visual self-timer, a feature to merge three images together, and Motion Photo which will allow you to freeze objects around a moving object. And for keeping young children focussed on the camera, an animation displayed on the front LCD will help a lot, although that might not help with adults who can’t stay still.

The cam is expected to be available in March with a price tag of $200. It comes in black, red, silver, navy, and red. The Samsung DV300F Wi-Fi DualView camera is expected to be unveiled at CES next week.

The post Samsung DV300F Is The First DualView Camera With Wi-Fi appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

Yes, it is able to record at full 1080pHD at 30 frames per second, but the kicker is that it is the only handheld capable of doing that and recording in HD audio (24-bit/96kHz). Audio, after all, is Zoom’s bread and butter.

Among the highlights in this newest pocket camcorder are a larger aperture with three lighting settings, the 120-degree X/Y microphone capsule configuration previously found in the zoom H4n recorder, and a built-in HDMI port for instant sharing on the big screen. It’s powered by a couple AA batteries and supports up to 32GB SDHC memory cards.

Doubling up on the HD-ness, for both audio and video, comes at a premium over devices that don’t do full HD in either department. The Zoom Q3HD is shipping now for $299.99 from online retailers.

[Samson Tech, Amazon]

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The thing is that most of these simple pocket camcorders have been focusing on increasing their video quality. The first batch could only do VGA, but it wasn’t long until they started pumping out 720p HD pocket cams and we’re starting to see some 1080p offerings as well. But what about the audio side?

To better approach this side of the equation, we are now looking at the Zoom Q3 Handy Video Recorder. Zoom comes from the same people who brought us the Samson Go Mic, so they know a thing or two about quality audio. Unlike other pocket cams that have a relatively simple audio setup, the Zoom Q3 captures HD quality audio at 24-bit/48 kHz. There are mics in there in an X/Y configuration.

The downside is that you only get a 640 x 480 (VGA) resolution video from this. Other highlights include up to 32GB SDHC cards for memory, a 2.4-inch QVGA display, 2x digital zoom, and up to two hours from a pair of AA batteries.

The Zoom Q3 is available now for $249. Hit up Samson Tech for more information.

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Well, the trip’s been over for a few months, but I wanted to share with you a few of the gadgets that made the trip – and the sharing of content possible.

I delivered my messages to the world via these items…

Macbook – as a writer, this is my preferred communications tool. With it I can write, blog, tweet, email and even record sound and video. This item won’t be far from my lap during the journey.

Zoom H2 recorder – As a technology reporter for NPR and as a lapsed podcaster, I’ve found this device to be an amazingly versatile and powerful tool for capturing all sorts of sound. It records in WAV and MP3 formats and is lighter than my cell phone.

Seagate FreeAgent|Go external hard drive – I’m still working on getting a video camera to document some of the events along the way and in anticipation of shooting video I know we’re going to need some storage devices. This little drive is 500GB of pure portability. I’m doing a separate review of this drive, but what I’ll let out of the bag right now is that there’s no better feeling than having digital room to expand when you’re creating content on a regular basis.

Sound, video and even written files have to go somewhere and there’s no way I’m deleting all my Jonathan Coulton songs off my Macbook’s HD.

**By the way, if you ever need to know about a tech gadget – search MobileMag.com – they’ve done…we’ve done reviews of nearly every gadget you’ve ever heard of from micro projectors to Google phones to iPhone apps to cases. We even put up recaps of big tech events and slice-of-life sharing of how we use gadgets in our day-to-day life.**

iPhone – ‘nuf said. Although during SXSW the unmodified iPhones required a visit from AT&T to boost local connectivity in downtown Austin as attendees at the show were sucking up all the bandwidth. My iPhone is on another network.

Olympus 720SW digital camera – It’s waterproof to 10 feet, it’s crushproof and it’s shock-proof. I’ve taken this thing to about 47 other countries and I’ve no doubt it can survive the comfy 1500 mile ride in a 2010 Ford Escape. It also returns great photos like this one at the 2006 Tour de France.

Various dongles, cables, batteries and headsets.

So, when you’re hitting the road make sure you figure out what you need and then see if we’ve used it and reviewed it.

Safe journeys!

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