Another useless toy that I want :)

    Writing about the latest and most high-tech stuff is sometimes boring: either their limitless features cant be used anywhere practically, or they are priced so high, it becomes pointless to buy them. A rare exception to the rules: SMaL Ultra-Pocket Digital Camera. It will be available in the ides of April and will run about $130 US dollars. SMaL’s key feature is its size – it is the smallest available digital camera in the world: at 6 mm thick, this camera is about the size of a credit card.

    SMaL shoots images at VGA resolution [640x480 pixels] which are stored on either 8 megabyte internal flash memory or external SD or MMC media. Aperture range – f3.8, shutter speed – 1/30 to 1/15 000 sec, USB interface. If you are a jumpy person, consider another camera – one wrong move and SMaL will snap in multiple pieces.

    Camera’s dimensions are not its signature feature however. Another very important aspect of SMaL is a built in Autobrite system, which solves the primary problem of most cheap cameras: inability to correctly capture scenes which have both dark and very bright objects. Autobrite automatically finds a perfect balance between the bright and dark spots on the image, spreading the light more or less evenly throughout it.

    Since this camera will be primarily used by spies from third world countries who cannot afford more high-tech equipment, Autobrite will be of much help for them. As an example, developers show the following two images:

    On the left – “a regular camera”, on the right – SMaL with Autobrite. Cool stuff! Any normal-sized digital camera can make same, or even better quality photo, but then again, a super-slim digital camera for $130 is not something to just pass by. The camera will be distributed by Fuji Film under the name AXIA eyeplate. I can see hidden cam pictures posts soaring binary newsgroups now…