LG to lead march of the eight-megapixel monsters?

Posted: 10 October 2008

A number of articles have lined up to take a look at LG's upcoming eight-megapixel cameraphones, with many heaping praise on the handsets through a series of sneak peek reviews and anticipation for their arrival.

The LG KC910 Renoir, which is expected to be released across a range of contracts and networks later this month, is one of a number of camera-focused mobile phones that are about to make their mark on the the industry with other entries expected from Sony Ericsson and Samsung in the near future.

However, with so many new models set to be launched over the coming weeks and months, Mobile Gazette has expressed its surprise that another model - the KC780 slider - is not being preceded by a louder fanfare. The site said that in terms of cameraphones, the eight-megapixel handset is still something of a rarity and despite the South Korean manufacturer's reluctance to shout about the KC780 from the rooftops, the phone still comes with a range of capabilities that are "pretty awesome".

In addition to the high-performance sensor, it is reported the KC780 will come with integrated auto-focus and a Schneider-Kreuznach certified lens. "The camera has low-light sensitivity and can also compensate for scenes that are too brightly lit. Although LG don't mention a flash, it does look like there might be one on the back," the article added.

Face detection technology, image stabilisation as well as a number of picture manipulation features can also be found onboard the model, and Mobile Gazette said LG have promised "DVD quality" from the handset's 30 frames per second video capture system. Buyers can also expect to find Bluetooth 2.1 on the phone, which is capable of acting as a webcam or a means to send text messages through a Bluetooth-enabled PC or laptop.

The KC780 will not let music fans down either, it suggested, as it has a built-in multimedia player and microSD support for anything up to 8GB. The FM radio and web browser also provide a number of other music options for users and with support for a range of file types - including DivX video - the handset could prove popular with some.

However, the article concluded that there are some problems with the phone - one of which is that it is not expected to be equipped with Wi-Fi technology - and that this may be due to the fact the KC780 is not considered to be a flagship model for the company, acting instead as a cheaper sibling to the company's other upcoming model - the LG KC910 Renoir.

In a press release last week, LG Electronics unveiled the full details of the LG KC910 Renoir and said the phone was designed to be a slim device, packed with a number of features that would appeal to those for which a good camera was an important part of the buying decision. Also an eight-megapixel, Schneider-Kreuznach optics-enhanced model, however, the Renoir does boast Wi-Fi connectivity and comes with a host of extras that set it apart as a serious multimedia product.

Dolby Mobile sound from Dolby Laboratories is just one of these, as LG have advised this makes it the "first handset created for the worldwide market" that will be equipped with such audio processing technology and the system offers audio quality that has a high level of "depth and richness". Also praised is the "clean, powerful bass" on offer that forms part of "a more immersing and engaging listening experience". In terms of video, the Renoir offers DivX and Xvid support meaning "hours of entertainment straight out of the box". In addition to Wi-Fi, the handset also has 3G HSDPA and A-GPS functionality.

Dr Skott Ahn, president and chief executive of LG Electronics' mobile phones division, states: "Renoir is much more than a camera phone. It truly puts everything at your fingertips and provides a multi-sensorial experience through sight, sound and touch." He added although it offers high-performance camera features, this "is only one aspect" and "its unique combination of features, including a full touchscreen interface, Dolby Mobile for Music and built in support for Wi-Fi and A-GPS, allow Renoir to be used in equally unique ways."

Coolest Gadgets was another online resource that expressed its interest in the phone this week, stating that LG had been building a reputation as a high quality phone maker for some time and that the time could be right for its new camera-focussed model to "blow your mind away". The article highlighted one of the handsets other popular features - its full touch screen display - and added that this could come in handy when utilised with the phone's Touch Shot facility.

"The Touch Shot feature allows the photographer to focus on any object simply by touching it on the screen, with the shutter firing automatically once the finger is removed. Touch Shot on the Renoir is the first for any cell phone, and greatly helps reduce camera shake in the process," the website said.

Of course, these two handsets are not the only eight-megapixel models that are heading to the market, with the Samsun Pixon and Sony Ericsson C905 among the other major releases set to be available soon, with Phones 4U recently heralding the more imminent arrival of the former as "the death of the digital camera".

The retailer said that the eagerly-awaited Sony Ericsson C905 would be on sale during October and in addition to a set of camera features that described as "immense", the impressive multimedia facilities and additional none standard functions mean that this two will be a cameraphone worth looking out for on its release.

"It seems that Samsung will be the first manufacturer to plant the eight-mega pixel flag in the UK," Phones 4U said on its website. "However, this mobile ain't no monkey, this is a fully evolved picture taking masterpiece - and boy does the quality of the photos show this."

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