Brick by brick: Lego pieces together electronics business

In a brilliant marketing move, Lego and Digital Blue have partnered to bring out Lego-branded kid's tech products. The line, which is due to launch this summer, will include digital cameras, MP3 players, video cameras, and walkie talkies. There's also talk of Lego boom boxes and clock radios.

Yes, it would be fun if kids could build their products themselves with a kit, but the bricks in these gadgets aren't designed to be pulled apart and rebuilt. That's probably a good thing, but a little customization would be cool.

No word on the exact pricing for the various devices--or what products will be available at launch--but the press release says they'll range in price from US$20 to US$60. Geared to preteens (7- to 11-year-olds), the Bionicle digital camera (pictured) will be stocked at Toys R Us this fall in US. Personally, I think they should gear it more to the 4- to 6-year-old crowd. All the preteens I know want real digital cameras.

Via CNET Crave

CES 2009: Digital imaging wrap-up

All things considered, this year's CES had a surprising amount of innovative--or at least interesting--tech for cameras and camcorders, beyond the usual bigger/faster/cheaper we've come to expect from the show.

Though each manufacturer took a different approach to pumping up its HD camcorder lines, they all took a split-the-market attitude: New models based on last year's technology designed to reach lower, entry-level prices on one side and beefing up sensors, optics, and controls for more expensive products to appeal to video enthusiasts. For instance, Sony's new XV500 series features a new back-illuminated sensor and geotagging capability, while Panasonic more widely rolled out its 3MOS three-chip system. Canon took the most typical route, going with a higher-resolution sensor and better lens.
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Olympus new megazoom leaves Kodak in the dust

Having announced its 24x superzoom shooter just before CES, Kodak's thunder has been stolen by Olympus. The Japanese company's latest SP-series shooter, the SP-590UZ, packs a class-leading 26x optical zoom. But seriously, do we need such a long lens? If you dislike the bulk of a dSLR and don't fancy lugging around different lenses, then I guess this bridge camera may interest you.

The 12-megapixel SP-590UZ has a 26mm wide-angle lens and reaches 676mm (personally, I've never used anything beyond 400mm). Sensor-shift image stabilizer compensates for handshakes, although I doubt its usability when you are zoomed in all the way. Exposure control-wise, there are the usual suite of manual, aperture/shutter priority and a bundle of scene modes to choose from.
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Polaroid PoGo camera: Big, boxy, lots of fun

People are still lamenting the passing of Polaroid Instant Film into history, but thanks to technology featured in its tiny portable PoGo printer launched in 2008, the company is offering a new shoot-and-print option: The Polaroid PoGo Instant Digital Camera. And despite its parent company's woes, Polaroid has no intention of curtailing product plans in 2009.

Plans for a 21st century Polaroid camera were announced in August 2008, but the product itself was announced at CES 2009.

The camera, which has a certain retro boxiness to it, is pretty big in comparison to most point-and-shoots with its camera specs. The 5-megapixel camera/printer measures 4.7 inches wide by 3 inches high by 1.3 inches deep and weighs 10 ounces--without paper, battery, or SD card. Keep in mind though: The original instant-print cameras didn't fit in a coat pocket, but this one does.
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Camera armor protects point-and-shoots

Camera Armor, a maker of protective silicone skins for dSLRs, has announced its first line of protective skins for point-and-shoot cameras.

Camera Armor's silicone protective skins are custom fit for each camera model and provide shock-absorbing protection. The compact skins allow complete access to controls and buttons, including battery and memory card access, as well as a polycarbonate LCD protective shield.

They are clear to allow the original color of the camera to show through, and have a special grip texture to prevent accidental drops. The Compact Camera Armor skins are initially available for the Canon SD1100 and Sony W-120. They retail for US$14.95.

Via Crave CNET

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