InVisage Technologies’ QuantumFilm uses a layer of nanometre-sized quantom dots, or semiconductor particles, which apparently attracts more light into the sensor than typical silicon sensors do. QuantumFilm can capture up to 95 per cent of light, whereas silicon chips can only get 20 per cent at most – meaning the photos taken with these new chips will be four times sharper than the average camera’s photos, with double the dynamic range.

InVisage is hopeful they can keep costs down in order to lure in the manufacturers, with the first devices using them launching next year. [VentureBeat]

The S5K4E2 is a 5-megapixel sensor that measures just 1/4 of an inch and has an extended depth of field which will make for sharp photos (supposedly). It’ll also shoot video at 14fps “at full resolution” and uses noise removal technology for clearer, less-noisy pics.

The second sensor, the S5K5CA, is 1/5th of an inch and is only 3 megapixels, with the main aim here being able to squeeze into extra small and slim phones. It’ll shoot video in 720p and features a new JPEG rotation feature, which Samsung claims will save time when rotating images, eliminating lag.

Both camera sensors will be seen in phones in just a month or two, though I’m guessing the latter sensor has been used in the Wave, judging by the specs. [Business Wire]

Watching your continuing coverage of the people of Iran continuing their fight for freedom I was struck, and touched, by the presence, in every picture, in every piece of footage, by the universal presence of mobile phones and cameras. No matter how chaotic, no matter how frightened they may be, the protesters held their phones high. Not a brave few but a brave many pressed into the violence, stood right next to the regimes thugs and pointed their cameras. It seems like the ultimate act of defiance; no matter how you try to shut us down or shut us up, we will expose you. You can kill us, but the world will know that we never stopped fighting. I urge you to continue to use your platform to show us this incredible fight. Before this started, the people of Iran seemed alien and vaguely threatening. Now, I see a young woman, veil shoved back and mobile phone in the air, and this lefty atheist woman sees a sister clear across the world.

[The Daily Dish]

As a camera, the AMOLED 12M also has 720p video recording (30fps), image stabilisation, face detection, and a Xenon flash. But Samsung hasn’t said too much about the phone side of things, even though it now says it will hit Korean stores next month.

From all reports, it’s likely the phone will use the TouchWiz UI, and have UMTS/HSDPA connectivity, GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and a slot for microSD cards.

Samsung hasn’t mentioned any plans for the phone outside of Korea, but it’s early days yet. [Sony Hub and Crave Asia]

Apart from its clearly camera design, the Samsung SCH-W880 comes loaded:

• 3.3-inch AMOLED WGA screen.
• UMTS/HSDPA connectivity.
• Wi-Fi
• GPS
• Bluetooth
• Slot for microSD cards.
• HD video at 30fps
• Macro mode.
• Xenon flash.

We haven’t tried yet, but this looks like the first cameraphone that can actually satisfy the photographer/peeping tom in us. [Samung Hub via HDblog via Engadget]

We can get nervous about the potential quality of such high-res photos and video coming from such a small sensor all we want, but on paper, the GC990 does well: the camera shoots through a Schneider-Kreuznach lens, gets lighting help from a Xenon flash module, and shoots up to ISO 3200, though I can’t imagine the noise levels being anywhere near tolerable.

As for the phone side of this brick, we’ve got a 3.2-inch touchscreen showing LG’s interesting S-class 3D UI. The rest of the specs are a mystery for the time being, but the camera is obviously intended to be the star here. [GSMArena via Slashphone]

First, the Techcrunch take:

Apple has placed an order for a massive number of camera modules of the type that they include in the iPhone. These are inexpensive cameras, in the $US10 range. And the size of the order, our source says, means they can only be used for one thing – the iPods.

That’s not a terribly huge amount of information, but even so, such a move’s objectives are immediately obvious: to enter, eat away at, and eventually obliterate the cheap camcorder space. Here’s how it goes: Apple puts a camera in their iPod Touch; customers already eager buy an iPod are suddenly more eager; customers looking for a cheap pocket camcorder suddenly have a new, price-competitive option with a ton more features than the typical video-recording bricks of the genre.

The iPod Touch has always had near-parity with the iPhone in terms of features, barring the obvious phone features. The other, non-cellular differences—lack of camera, microphone, and for a while, GPS—disturbed this parity, though one assumes they were necessary for reasons of price. Adding a camera would close the gap, mostly eliminating the annoying penalty of buying a Touch over an iPhone.

Techcrunch goes so far as to say the order is big enough to expect cameras in all iPods except the shuffle—a rumour we’ve heard bits and pieces of before. That’d be fine, I guess, but the Touch seems like a much more obvious (and practical and functional) choice: it’s already got the screen, the software and connectivity it needs to be a competitive camera product; Apple just needs to give it eyes. [Techcrunch—Thanks, Matt!]

A lot of Jesus’ comments are totally valid when you look at the price of this handset – $1,099 for a Walkman phone that doesn’t offer the same level of versatility and functionality as a smartphone. While I haven’t played with the W995 myself, I do know that previous versions (W900, W950) did have a really solid build quality and a pleasant design, but to be brutally honest, that just isn’t enough in a world where HTC, Palm, RIM, Apple and even Microsoft WinMo are bringing far superior function to a similarly-priced (or cheaper on contract) device. When it comes down to it, Sony Ericsson really just needs to take their hardware to the next level by upgrading the software that runs their phones. Hopefully they’ll realise that before it’s too late.

[Sony Ericsson]

New Scientist says these researchers are attempting to develop software which can take an image of Mars’ terrain, and identify any geological structures which might house organic matter. The software hopes to accomplish this by analysing the colour properties of images, breaking down the colour, hue and intensity, and pointing out anything that seems irregular in comparison to its surroundings.

All the image processing is done on a computer, which receives the cameraphone images via laptop. The Mars Society says they don’t expect cameraphones to be the weapon of choice in space. As for the locale, the Utah desert was picked as a locale, because like Mars, it’s extremely dusty.

But not everyone has faith in the project. Researchers in the Netherlands claim that algorithm-based imaging software could never replace real geologists because texture matters as much as colour. But Mars Society leader Patrick McGuire thinks future versions of the software will be “superhuman.” I guess we’ll see. [New Scientist]