Samsung Unveils 12-Megapixel Camera Phone

Electronics giant and handset manufacturer Samsung is gearing up to offer snap-happy consumers a 12-megapixel camera phone, the Pixon12. When the phone comes to market in Europe this month, it will be the world’s first 12-megapixel camera phone with full-touch screen.
In addition to the full-touch 3.1-inch AMOLED screen, the Pixon12 has a Dedicated Camera Power Key that gives users one-touch access to the camera function. The camera phone also features fast image saving for next shot, so users can move to the next shot within around 2 seconds, the company said.
Samsung also included touch auto-focus (AF) tracking, so users can select a focus point with the touch of a finger, after which the AF function will automatically follow the object, keeping it in focus as it moves across the screen. A “Smart Auto” feature allows users to capture images as the camera automatically changes the scene and mode based on its object, background and lighting.
JK Shin, the company’s executive vice president and head of mobile communications, said the Pixon12 is testament to Samsung’s ongoing consumer research efforts. “Speedy access to the camera mode, fast shutter speed and quick browsing are some of the key factors consumers are looking for in their mobile phone cameras,” he said. “We are very pleased to introduce the world’s first 12-megapixel camera phone that holds the answer to these pressing consumer needs.”
The company said the camera’s 28mm wide-angle lens also allows a better perspective and more full capture of a scene. The camera phone enables users to then organize and manage photos with multiple ways of sorting, including by tags, file names, ratings and time. In addition, the multi-selection feature enables users to pull up images in groups rather than one by one.
The announcement effectively ends a competition between Samsung and rival handset maker Sony Ericsson, which had plans to release the world’s first 12-megapixel camera. Although the camera phone will only be available in Europe from the end of June, Samsung said it will expand the offering to other territories.