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The International Trade Commission has weighed in on one half of the ongoing Apple-Kodak legal saga, ruling in favor of the team from Rochester. In a decision handed down yesterday, ITC Judge Robert Rogers determined that Apple’s allegations of patent infringement are unfounded, adding that one of the company’s patents is invalid. At issue are two digital camera technologies owned by Apple. One allows a camera to process multiple photos at the same time, while the other enables users to simultaneously adjust an image’s balance, color and resolution. Apple claimed that Kodak illegally used these mechanisms in its Z-series, M-series, C-series, and Slice cameras, in addition to some video cameras. Judge Rogers clearly disagreed, though he won’t be able to publicly explain his reasoning until both sides have had enough time to review confidential documents. Rogers’ decision will also be subject to review by the full ITC, which is expected to issue a yea or nay on September 19th. A Kodak spokesman said the company is understandably “pleased” by the decision, but it won’t have much time to rest on its laurels. On May 23rd, the ITC will announce a decision in a patent lawsuit that Kodak filed against both Apple and RIM, way back in January 2010. Stay tuned.

ITC judge rules against Apple in patent infringement case, Kodak smiles originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 May 2011 08:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The thought of an endoscope entering any orifice is an unpleasant one, even if it’s so your doctor can diagnose what ails you. Good thing Medigus made the world’s smallest video camera so those medical probes are a little less painful. It’s .99mm in diameter — making it a smidge smaller than previous peewee endoscopes — and packs a .66mm x .66mm CMOS sensor to deliver video of your insides at 45,000 pixels worth of resolution. Best of all, the devices are disposable, so clean-up’s a breeze. A reusable version is also available, but given where these things go, we’re just fine with them being one use only. PR’s after the break.

Continue reading World’s tiniest video camera helps doctors see inside of you

World’s tiniest video camera helps doctors see inside of you originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 May 2011 20:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony is still staying mum on any official details for the NEX-C3, but the camera’s instruction manual has now made a brief appearance on the company’s Czech Republic site, offering yet more evidence that the successor to the NEX-3 is set for an imminent launch. The camera mock-up on the description page appears to be identical to previously leaked photos, and judging by control layout, NEX-3 and NEX-5 users should have no trouble adjusting. The full manual is no longer available, but DPReview points out that the camera is smaller than both previous models, and includes a 16 megapixel sensor. A post on Mirrorless Forum also reveals a new lens — a 30mm f/3.5 macro priced at €259 (about $383) — adding a fourth option to the limited mix of NEX-compatible optics.

Continue reading NEX-C3 instruction manual appears on Sony’s Czech site, quickly removed

NEX-C3 instruction manual appears on Sony’s Czech site, quickly removed originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 May 2011 15:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’re not the only site to put Nikon’s new mid-range DSLR through its paces. Plenty of others have taken the D5100 for a spin and we thought you might like to know: they’re all pretty impressed. The new 1080p30 video mode was much appreciated as was the larger, higher resolution swivel screen around back. The biggest props generally went to the improved high-ISO performance (which was already quite respectable on the D5000 it’s replacing) and the boost in autofocus speed, especially when using the LCD as a view finder in Live View mode. Oddly, the built-in effects also garnered a lot of attention. The Miniature Effect (a tilt-shift simulator) and Selective Color mode impressed reviewers the most with their surprising level of sophistication for in-camera processing. All of the effects can also be used when shooting video, so you can make your HD footage look like black and white 8mm by turning on Night Vision. Criticisms were relatively minor and applicable to most mid- and entry-level DSLRs — primarily that the body is plasticy and there is a slight lag in focus and shutter performance. The D5100 is an obvious upgrade over the D5000 and more than holds its own against its competitors, but if you want to dig deeper check out our review and the ones below.

Read – DPReview
Read – Photography Blog
Read – CNET
Read – Nikon Rumors
Read – Pocket-Lint
Read – Pocket-Lint (2)

Nikon’s D5100 impresses, captures children’s birthday parties with incredible clarity originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 17:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When you think of manufacturers that create products to go hand-in-hand with the Apple iPhone, Leica probably wouldn’t come to mind. The seemingly brilliant minds at Black Design Associates hope to change that, however. The Leica i9 concept pairs an iPhone 4 with a fixed-lens rangefinder camera, and the result is nothing short of extraordinary. Slipping your iPhone 4 — black or white — into the back of the i9 brings the camera to life, activating the compact optical zoom, dedicated aperture and shutter dials, flash and light meter. Images are instantly viewable on the iPhone, where it’s safe to assume they’re stored as well. The camera back doubles as a case, but you’re probably going to want to use it with a headset, unless you like talking to a camera. There’s no sign that the i9 will even reach the prototype phase, but nobody is going to stop the high-end camera’s designer from dreaming — especially when said dreams make us weak at the knees.

Continue reading Leica i9 concept pairs $1,000 camera with $200 iPhone

Leica i9 concept pairs $1,000 camera with $200 iPhone originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Apr 2011 20:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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