2 Megapixel Bluetooth Camera

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.concordcam.com/products/wireless/wireless.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.concordcam.com/products/...ss/wireless.htm</a><br /><br /></div>I've never heard of these guys, but they've seemed to beat most of the major camera manufacturers to the punch -- they've integrated BT support in a compact, little camera.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/parekh-20031226-ConcordCamera.jpg" /><br /><br />It seems to support the OBEX (Object Exchange) profile, which would presumably mean it would work with both handheld and desktop Bluetooth implementations. Too bad it doesn't have any optical zoom.

[freitasm]

edited by original poster, comments later

[that_kid]

Now that's a cool idea, especially with all the latest bluetooth pda's and printers. This is all I need to add to ipaq 5555 and T608.

[freitasm]

Now that's a cool idea, especially with all the latest bluetooth pda's and printers. This is all I need to add to ipaq 5555 and T608.

I understand they wanted this to be on the market sooner than later, but the BIP (Basic Image Profile) was only officialy approved last month.

The camera implements OBEX File Transfer. It means you can send/receive files, but most of the Sony laptops, Clies, and new Image printers with Bluetooth will be using the BIP instead of OBEX.

In short it's cool to transfer files, but may not interoperate with more modern devices.

[that_kid]

When will these manufactures get it together with bluetooth :evil:

[bdegroodt]

That's discouraging to hear freitasm. :( So tired of the standards that aren't thing. By chance did Sony muscle in on this standard? Oh well. At least it's a step by SOMEONE in the right direction.

[XKalibuR]

man BT has potential but very slow to bring these items.. for instance.. I'm still waiting for a BT wireless headphone solution.

[hellogts]

Openbrain wireless BT headphones and AOD player
XKalibuR, you can order it from them already - OBH-0100 / 0110

[freitasm]

That's discouraging to hear freitasm. :( So tired of the standards that aren't thing. By chance did Sony muscle in on this standard? Oh well. At least it's a step by SOMEONE in the right direction.

Not at all. Actually BIP is great. It's a File Transfer with specific information added for images. This is used by Sony in it's digital cameras, DV-recorders, Clie and Laptops.

It's just that it came a little too late for this specific camera. But it would be good if they could upgrade the software in it - it's not a hardware thing, and it's not Bluetooth 1.2, so it should be easy.

I've contacted them, again. 5th time, let's say if they move this time.

[mashtim]

Not to get TOO far off-topic, but HelloGTS, do you have an OpenBrain stereo BT headset?
If so, what are your likes
/dislikes about it? Do you use it w/ your PPC? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

[yslee]

BT this, BT that, I wonder how much of it is really needed?

BT's bandwidth is what, 1mbps? slower than USB 1.1, with USB 2.0 card readers cheap, I don't fancy transferring my images at that kinda speed.

BT wireless headphones: err, not sure how good they can be, but I'll take the quality of proven RF headphones and wired headphones over the rare and limited selection of BT headphones any day.

[gorkon280]

I've never heard of these guys, but they've seemed to beat most of the major camera manufacturers to the punch -- they've integrated BT support in a compact, little camera.


Concord used to, and still does. make ultra cheap 35 mm cameras and now some digital cameras. Odds are, this thing probably sucks. Anyway, it would still be nice to have especially to send that quick picture via e-mail!

[freitasm]

Concord used to, and still does. make ultra cheap 35 mm cameras and now some digital cameras. Odds are, this thing probably sucks. Anyway, it would still be nice to have especially to send that quick picture via e-mail!

I take pictures with my Kodak LS443, remove the SD card, insert into my Pocket PC and send from there over GPRS. Works ok, and it's still wireless - and I like Bluetooth lots, but using the SD is still the way to go. Unless you find a 4megapixels camera with optical zoom AND Bluetooth. Which is not this case.

[freitasm]

Openbrain wireless BT headphones and AOD player
XKalibuR, you can order it from them already - OBH-0100 / 0110

I think the Openbrain's BT headphones are stereo only when playing MP3 from the built in player. The headphones can be used as Bluetooth headset, but it does not say it's stereo in this way. The main reason for Bluetooth in the product seems to be file transfer (mp3).

The company is only selling samples at this stage...

[wjsteele]

but most of the Sony laptops, Clies, and new Image printers with Bluetooth

Um... who buys Sony products??? :-) (Remember, most of those Sony products also use those stupid memory stick thingies.)

Bill

[Larry L]

If you want a 4 meg camera with Bluetooth try this Sony

http://www.blueunplugged.com/shop/detail.asp?productGroupID=154&deptID=27#

Larry L

[albsilva]

Could this thing be controlled from PDA software? Something like a SDK would be nice :)

Alberto Silva

[Cypher]

I just bought my Mother-in-Law a camera by the same company. It has a built-in SD/MMC reader, a flash, and connects via USB to the desktop. It looks like a USB hard drive to the desktop and I can put the SD card directly into my e800. The included software not only allows you to transfer pictures and video, but also to use the camera as video input for the desktop system. It's not built to take major punishment (as you might guess from a $40 price tag), but it's easy to use and won't break if you look at it wrong.

[freitasm]

Got a reply from this company - after the fifth e-mail. The support person asked me to call a number in the US for reviews. Hmmm... Not very helpful but will try later.

[gohtor]

Cool to hear new device implementations but I feel it's a wasted effort. How badly do you want to wirelessly transfer those images? Sure, you can now store them onto your pda which probably has as much restrictive storage space as the camera's memory slot. And is it that much trouble for one to plug their usb sync cable to the desktop pc?

Now if it was a wireless webcam it would be a total different story. sony's bluetooth camcorder is better in the end but I hear it's not too friendly with non sony bluetooth devices. lol =)

win some, lose some.

Robert Huie

[Fishie]

Got a reply from this company - after the fifth e-mail. The support person asked me to call a number in the US for reviews. Hmmm... Not very helpful but will try later.

Yeah a US PR firm is handling stuff for em, got an email from em(the PR company mostly does videogame PR so I was on their lists)a few months ago asking me if I wanted one for review, I declined.

[kwerner]

That's discouraging to hear freitasm. :( So tired of the standards that aren't thing. By chance did Sony muscle in on this standard? Oh well. At least it's a step by SOMEONE in the right direction.

Not at all. Actually BIP is great. It's a File Transfer with specific information added for images. This is used by Sony in it's digital cameras, DV-recorders, Clie and Laptops.



Why couldn't they use OBEX instead of creating a new profile? Seems Sony's camera's could ignore non-image files, probably wouldn't want to copy an image TO the camera anyway.

When I buy a Bluetooth printer, I hope it has OBEX so I can print other documents besides images.

[freitasm]

Got a reply from this company - after the fifth e-mail. The support person asked me to call a number in the US for reviews. Hmmm... Not very helpful but will try later.

Yeah a US PR firm is handling stuff for em, got an email from em(the PR company mostly does videogame PR so I was on their lists)a few months ago asking me if I wanted one for review, I declined.

Do you have the PR company's contact please?

[freitasm]

That's discouraging to hear freitasm. :( So tired of the standards that aren't thing. By chance did Sony muscle in on this standard? Oh well. At least it's a step by SOMEONE in the right direction.

Not at all. Actually BIP is great. It's a File Transfer with specific information added for images. This is used by Sony in it's digital cameras, DV-recorders, Clie and Laptops.



Why couldn't they use OBEX instead of creating a new profile? Seems Sony's camera's could ignore non-image files, probably wouldn't want to copy an image TO the camera anyway.

When I buy a Bluetooth printer, I hope it has OBEX so I can print other documents besides images.

Bluetooth printers comes with Serial profile (or Cable Replacement as some call). The new ones will come with BPP or HCP.

[Fishie]

Got a reply from this company - after the fifth e-mail. The support person asked me to call a number in the US for reviews. Hmmm... Not very helpful but will try later.

Yeah a US PR firm is handling stuff for em, got an email from em(the PR company mostly does videogame PR so I was on their lists)a few months ago asking me if I wanted one for review, I declined.

Do you have the PR company's contact please?

Ill send ya the email in a private message, its not good form to give out PR company details on a public board.

[gpspassion]

Openbrain wireless BT headphones and AOD player
XKalibuR, you can order it from them already - OBH-0100 / 0110

I think the Openbrain's BT headphones are stereo only when playing MP3 from the built in player. The headphones can be used as Bluetooth headset, but it does not say it's stereo in this way. The main reason for Bluetooth in the product seems to be file transfer (mp3).

The company is only selling samples at this stage...

I saw them at CeBIT last year and they did have plans for stereo over BT, but the problem is the current lack of a profile...I think it's PAC or PAO or something like that.

[Len M.]

Bluetooth transfers are limited to something like 400 KB/s maximum -- typically it's half of that or less.

Say, you've got a 1 GB card full of images. If Bluetooth is running at 200 KB/s, how long does it take you to transfer it to your PC via Bluetooth? About an hour and a half.

That's why Bluetooth is not such a great idea when you need to transfer lots of data.


Len M.

[freitasm]

The theorethical maximum is acutally 1024kbps. The maximum after overhead is 720kbps. The actual maximum depends on each device's manufacturer's implementation.

[Len M.]

Well, 1 megaBits per second is much less than 400 kiloBytes per second.

At the maximum bit rate, assuming no overhead due to format and no inefficiencies in the implementation (impossibly big assumptions!), it would take 2.2 hours to transfer the contents of a 1 GB CF memory card full of images.



Len M.

[freitasm]

I've posted my review of this camera on-line now, at http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?contentid=2138.

Thanks to Fishie, who kindly sent me the PR contacts, and through them I've got the camera in record time!

It's actually a cool device, and I loved it. Shame have to send it back. It's very small and light (100g) 8)

[Fishie]

I've posted my review of this camera on-line now, at http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?contentid=2138.

Thanks to Fishie, who kindly sent me the PR contacts, and through them I've got the camera in record time!

It's actually a cool device, and I loved it. Shame have to send it back. It's very small and light (100g) 8)

Well the camera is pretty cheap so if ya like it so much why dont you buy one?

[freitasm]

I would - it's quite cool to have the camera always available, instead of my big digital one with a lens kit (wide angle, telephoto, 10x and 7x) spare battery, tripod, etc...

The problem is that you have to buy these over the internet, since I haven't found it here in NZ yet - although there are Concord products here. Er, not that this stopped me buying anything before, really :roll: