Why do you need a good cell phone camera?

Uncategorized 1 Minute

Sun blocked by smoke

News might break out. Yesterday those of us at PodTech were smoked out by a grass fire across the street from our offices on Page Mill Road in Palo Alto. The fire started near the famous “dish” on Stanford University lands near freeway 280 and quickly moved toward Page Mill Road. Luckily no structures were involved but it caused a lot of smoke. It’s the first time I’ve been close to a news event with my cell phone camera.

I Twittered from my phone too, and it was interesting to see the responses from people who could see my photos and Twitters live. Damn I love my cell phone because of its camera. It’ll be very interesting to test out the new iPhone’s camera and compare it to the one in my Nokia N95.

Advertisement

Published by Robert Scoble

I help entrepreneurs build their technology business' story, help with getting ready for investors, with other launch plans, and many other strategic things that can help your new startup. Call to talk: +1-425-205-1921 (text first).

Published

73 thoughts on “Why do you need a good cell phone camera?”

  4. That 5mp camera is quite something! I have a feeling that the iPhone camera will be good, but not in the same league as the N95’s.

    Like

  5. That 5mp camera is quite something! I have a feeling that the iPhone camera will be good, but not in the same league as the N95’s.

    Like

  6. That 5mp camera is quite something! I have a feeling that the iPhone camera will be good, but not in the same league as the N95’s.

    Like

  7. Pingback: Nseries WOM World » Blog Archive » The N95’s 5mp camera

  8. I totally agree with the concept of a good camera on the phone in addition to other features that I think we will see mre demand for.
    Question on the N95. Iknow you mentioned that it has GPS as well. Does it facilitate auto tagging of images with GPS data as metadata? How about for audio/video capture?

    Like

  9. I totally agree with the concept of a good camera on the phone in addition to other features that I think we will see mre demand for.
    Question on the N95. Iknow you mentioned that it has GPS as well. Does it facilitate auto tagging of images with GPS data as metadata? How about for audio/video capture?

    Like

  10. I totally agree with the concept of a good camera on the phone in addition to other features that I think we will see mre demand for.
    Question on the N95. Iknow you mentioned that it has GPS as well. Does it facilitate auto tagging of images with GPS data as metadata? How about for audio/video capture?

    Like

  11. It’s not like a 2MP camera cannot take some fine, or at least usable pictures – the ones I took with my SonyEricsson K750i were pretty darn good for that resolution. But to achieve that it had Sony QuickShot software, a reasonable flash and autofocus – for all we know the iPhone has none of these features. So as far as I see it that kind of camera will only be good for some candid shots or maybe to shoot a portrait picture to be shown as part of the caller ID.

    Maybe there will be an iPhone Photo some day… 😉

    Not that any of us here in good old Europe would care too much anyway. I’ve asked several T-Com and Vodafone vendors, and all I got so far was “The i-what? Apple is making a phone!?”

    Like

  12. It’s not like a 2MP camera cannot take some fine, or at least usable pictures – the ones I took with my SonyEricsson K750i were pretty darn good for that resolution. But to achieve that it had Sony QuickShot software, a reasonable flash and autofocus – for all we know the iPhone has none of these features. So as far as I see it that kind of camera will only be good for some candid shots or maybe to shoot a portrait picture to be shown as part of the caller ID.

    Maybe there will be an iPhone Photo some day… 😉

    Not that any of us here in good old Europe would care too much anyway. I’ve asked several T-Com and Vodafone vendors, and all I got so far was “The i-what? Apple is making a phone!?”

    Like

  13. It’s not like a 2MP camera cannot take some fine, or at least usable pictures – the ones I took with my SonyEricsson K750i were pretty darn good for that resolution. But to achieve that it had Sony QuickShot software, a reasonable flash and autofocus – for all we know the iPhone has none of these features. So as far as I see it that kind of camera will only be good for some candid shots or maybe to shoot a portrait picture to be shown as part of the caller ID.

    Maybe there will be an iPhone Photo some day… 😉

    Not that any of us here in good old Europe would care too much anyway. I’ve asked several T-Com and Vodafone vendors, and all I got so far was “The i-what? Apple is making a phone!?”

    Like

  23. You really want to make that comparison, being fare or not!
    In the iPhone, the camera is not the main feature, as in yout N95. I’m sorry the GPS is lame and the N95 IS turned to the image (photo and video recording) while the iPhone is not, the camera is just there. The googlemaps and stuff are the main feature (with the 8gb for music).

    Like

  24. You really want to make that comparison, being fare or not!
    In the iPhone, the camera is not the main feature, as in yout N95. I’m sorry the GPS is lame and the N95 IS turned to the image (photo and video recording) while the iPhone is not, the camera is just there. The googlemaps and stuff are the main feature (with the 8gb for music).

    Like

  25. You really want to make that comparison, being fare or not!
    In the iPhone, the camera is not the main feature, as in yout N95. I’m sorry the GPS is lame and the N95 IS turned to the image (photo and video recording) while the iPhone is not, the camera is just there. The googlemaps and stuff are the main feature (with the 8gb for music).

    Like

  26. A nit — but it is annoying (at least to me).

    Is it possible that you could add the border=0 attribute (or use a style attribute for the same effect) to remove the annoying blue/red outline border from the flickr pictures that are posted on your blog? (that is of course assuming you do not for some reason want the border)

    Like

  27. A nit — but it is annoying (at least to me).

    Is it possible that you could add the border=0 attribute (or use a style attribute for the same effect) to remove the annoying blue/red outline border from the flickr pictures that are posted on your blog? (that is of course assuming you do not for some reason want the border)

    Like

  28. A nit — but it is annoying (at least to me).

    Is it possible that you could add the border=0 attribute (or use a style attribute for the same effect) to remove the annoying blue/red outline border from the flickr pictures that are posted on your blog? (that is of course assuming you do not for some reason want the border)

    Like

  29. @2 Based on what? The difference in pixel count? Pixel count makes no difference on a picture displayed on a monitor or small screen like a cell phone.

    Again, its likely the sensor and the lens quality contributing to the perceived “quality” of the N95 camera.

    Like

  30. @2 Based on what? The difference in pixel count? Pixel count makes no difference on a picture displayed on a monitor or small screen like a cell phone.

    Again, its likely the sensor and the lens quality contributing to the perceived “quality” of the N95 camera.

    Like

  31. @2 Based on what? The difference in pixel count? Pixel count makes no difference on a picture displayed on a monitor or small screen like a cell phone.

    Again, its likely the sensor and the lens quality contributing to the perceived “quality” of the N95 camera.

    Like

  32. All I see is a Blue border that looks good to me. No red at all. What are you viewing it on? The PIX looks great. I am using Win XP and IE7

    Like

  33. All I see is a Blue border that looks good to me. No red at all. What are you viewing it on? The PIX looks great. I am using Win XP and IE7

    Like

  34. All I see is a Blue border that looks good to me. No red at all. What are you viewing it on? The PIX looks great. I am using Win XP and IE7

    Like

  35. I missed it. I work for Stanford but our building is across from the big HP complex on Page Mill. The fire started not long after we left for the day.

    I did catch a shot with my cell last week of a fire that started on the 280 to 85 junction not far from there. I didn’t think to twitter it though! I need to start forwarding twitters to my 8525 again because if I had known about this I’d have grabbed the XTi and driven up to get some shots…

    Like

  36. I missed it. I work for Stanford but our building is across from the big HP complex on Page Mill. The fire started not long after we left for the day.

    I did catch a shot with my cell last week of a fire that started on the 280 to 85 junction not far from there. I didn’t think to twitter it though! I need to start forwarding twitters to my 8525 again because if I had known about this I’d have grabbed the XTi and driven up to get some shots…

    Like

  37. I missed it. I work for Stanford but our building is across from the big HP complex on Page Mill. The fire started not long after we left for the day.

    I did catch a shot with my cell last week of a fire that started on the 280 to 85 junction not far from there. I didn’t think to twitter it though! I need to start forwarding twitters to my 8525 again because if I had known about this I’d have grabbed the XTi and driven up to get some shots…

    Like

  41. Its funny, when cell phones first came out with cameras I thought it was a stupid idea. But in a complete turn of events I find myself using the camera on my Pearl a heck of alot. Scoble, that is great that you did some citizen journalism and caught pictures of that fire. Now what happens when there is an earthquake? Scoble will be first on the scene. 🙂

    Like

  42. Its funny, when cell phones first came out with cameras I thought it was a stupid idea. But in a complete turn of events I find myself using the camera on my Pearl a heck of alot. Scoble, that is great that you did some citizen journalism and caught pictures of that fire. Now what happens when there is an earthquake? Scoble will be first on the scene. 🙂

    Like

  43. Its funny, when cell phones first came out with cameras I thought it was a stupid idea. But in a complete turn of events I find myself using the camera on my Pearl a heck of alot. Scoble, that is great that you did some citizen journalism and caught pictures of that fire. Now what happens when there is an earthquake? Scoble will be first on the scene. 🙂

    Like

  44. A lot a people complained about the camera on N95, it was as if they expected SLR quality – at least this way, by not focusing on the camera, people might be pleasantly surprised by the iPhone.

    Like

  45. A lot a people complained about the camera on N95, it was as if they expected SLR quality – at least this way, by not focusing on the camera, people might be pleasantly surprised by the iPhone.

    Like

  46. A lot a people complained about the camera on N95, it was as if they expected SLR quality – at least this way, by not focusing on the camera, people might be pleasantly surprised by the iPhone.

    Like

  47. It’s the casual photos that one can take with the N95 that are really quite amazing that makes me love the phone so much. (Click on my name to go to my blog to see some samples of Sennen Cove in Cornwall in the UK).

    Like

  48. It’s the casual photos that one can take with the N95 that are really quite amazing that makes me love the phone so much. (Click on my name to go to my blog to see some samples of Sennen Cove in Cornwall in the UK).

    Like

  49. It’s the casual photos that one can take with the N95 that are really quite amazing that makes me love the phone so much. (Click on my name to go to my blog to see some samples of Sennen Cove in Cornwall in the UK).

    Like

  50. For the same money you good buy some medium-priced phone (webbrowser, 3G + ton of other things), *really* *good* camera (Mpx, zoom + ton of other things) and some nice urban rucksack.

    Like

  51. For the same money you good buy some medium-priced phone (webbrowser, 3G + ton of other things), *really* *good* camera (Mpx, zoom + ton of other things) and some nice urban rucksack.

    Like

  52. For the same money you good buy some medium-priced phone (webbrowser, 3G + ton of other things), *really* *good* camera (Mpx, zoom + ton of other things) and some nice urban rucksack.

    Like

  62. This seems like a good time to remind citizens of their rights as photographers. I’m not an attorney; I am only an amateur photographer, but these two articles by Andrew Kantor at least provide a little guidance:

    http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/andrewkantor/2005-12-29-camera-laws_x.htm

    http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/andrewkantor/2006-08-11-photography-rights_x.htm

    Cell phone cameras are likely less threatening to foolish security guards than, say, Thomas Hawk’s SLR, but given his luck, it doesn’t hurt to have some guidelines.

    Like

  63. This seems like a good time to remind citizens of their rights as photographers. I’m not an attorney; I am only an amateur photographer, but these two articles by Andrew Kantor at least provide a little guidance:

    http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/andrewkantor/2005-12-29-camera-laws_x.htm

    http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/andrewkantor/2006-08-11-photography-rights_x.htm

    Cell phone cameras are likely less threatening to foolish security guards than, say, Thomas Hawk’s SLR, but given his luck, it doesn’t hurt to have some guidelines.

    Like

  64. This seems like a good time to remind citizens of their rights as photographers. I’m not an attorney; I am only an amateur photographer, but these two articles by Andrew Kantor at least provide a little guidance:

    http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/andrewkantor/2005-12-29-camera-laws_x.htm

    http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/andrewkantor/2006-08-11-photography-rights_x.htm

    Cell phone cameras are likely less threatening to foolish security guards than, say, Thomas Hawk’s SLR, but given his luck, it doesn’t hurt to have some guidelines.

    Like

  65. Why in heaven’s name would you compare the N95’s and iPhone’s cameras? The N95’s is better. Much better. Much, much better. Everyone knows this.

    The iPhone is touted as a three-in-one device; the camera is NOT one of those three things!

    The N95 is a one-trick pony; the camera IS that one trick.

    I’m not knocking the N95. Great camera that happens to include a phone and unspectacular web browsing and email. if you need a quality camera with you at all times, it just might be the ticket. I consider this a smaller target market than most smartphones, but it certainly hits the mark well.

    I just don’t understand why, of all the phones out there, you keep pushing for a N95 and iPhone comparo. Anyone whose priorities cover what one offers is not even going to be interested in the other.

    Like

  66. Why in heaven’s name would you compare the N95’s and iPhone’s cameras? The N95’s is better. Much better. Much, much better. Everyone knows this.

    The iPhone is touted as a three-in-one device; the camera is NOT one of those three things!

    The N95 is a one-trick pony; the camera IS that one trick.

    I’m not knocking the N95. Great camera that happens to include a phone and unspectacular web browsing and email. if you need a quality camera with you at all times, it just might be the ticket. I consider this a smaller target market than most smartphones, but it certainly hits the mark well.

    I just don’t understand why, of all the phones out there, you keep pushing for a N95 and iPhone comparo. Anyone whose priorities cover what one offers is not even going to be interested in the other.

    Like

  67. Why in heaven’s name would you compare the N95’s and iPhone’s cameras? The N95’s is better. Much better. Much, much better. Everyone knows this.

    The iPhone is touted as a three-in-one device; the camera is NOT one of those three things!

    The N95 is a one-trick pony; the camera IS that one trick.

    I’m not knocking the N95. Great camera that happens to include a phone and unspectacular web browsing and email. if you need a quality camera with you at all times, it just might be the ticket. I consider this a smaller target market than most smartphones, but it certainly hits the mark well.

    I just don’t understand why, of all the phones out there, you keep pushing for a N95 and iPhone comparo. Anyone whose priorities cover what one offers is not even going to be interested in the other.

    Like

  68. Citizen journalism in action!

    I’ve loved my N95 from the day I got it (a couple of weeks ago), but since I’ve sorted out the web upload straight to Flickr, I see pictures-sharing in a whole new light.

    Casually taking photos and publishing them has become so effortless. Between using Skitch (plasq.com/skitch) for screenshots and the N95 when out and about, I really am rediscovering Flickr!

    Like

  69. Citizen journalism in action!

    I’ve loved my N95 from the day I got it (a couple of weeks ago), but since I’ve sorted out the web upload straight to Flickr, I see pictures-sharing in a whole new light.

    Casually taking photos and publishing them has become so effortless. Between using Skitch (plasq.com/skitch) for screenshots and the N95 when out and about, I really am rediscovering Flickr!

    Like

  70. Citizen journalism in action!

    I’ve loved my N95 from the day I got it (a couple of weeks ago), but since I’ve sorted out the web upload straight to Flickr, I see pictures-sharing in a whole new light.

    Casually taking photos and publishing them has become so effortless. Between using Skitch (plasq.com/skitch) for screenshots and the N95 when out and about, I really am rediscovering Flickr!

    Like

Comments are closed.