DailyTech - Kodak Integrates Bluetooth into Cameras

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Gadgets Kodak Integrates Bluetooth into Cameras
Tuan Nguyen (Blog) - April 3, 2006 8:44 AM

7 comment(s) - last by gonzalojn.. on Apr 3 at 3:29 PM

Bluetooth cameras on the way

These days, wireless communications is a critical topic and one that's on the to-do list of virtually every technology company -- even Kodak. According to Engadget, the long-time camera and imaging company recently filed with the FCC for integrated Bluetooth technology into digital cameras.

Bluetooth has enjoyed limited success in terms of computer peripherals, but has become a highly regarded feature for cell phones. Considering that most cell phones these days have cameras in them, it was only a matter of time until a company like Kodak introduced a digital camera that would be able to connect to a computer or laptop using Bluetooth. Wireless technology on a camera is not new however, as Nikon has already demonstrated that its D2H is even able to send photos wirelessly using the FTP protocol.

Kodak's efforts will no doubt pave the way for more point-and-shoots to go the same route. At this time however, Bluetooth itself is still much to slow to transfer large amounts high resolution images.

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No way...

By exdeath on 4/3/2006 10:21:41 AM , Rating: 2

Ugh it takes like a minute to transfer 1.3MP images via bluetooth, I don't even want to know how long a 4+ MP image would take.

I'm using the raw serial port profile over Bitpim so maybe that has some serious overhead.

What we need is slim bluetooth keyboards (or WUSB to get here) to go with the new miniPCs like the one from Aopen. Only cords would be the power and DVI connections. Plenty of wireless keyboards but they are all fullsize and full of excessive plastic.

RE: No way...

By acejj26 on 4/3/2006 10:57:21 AM , Rating: 2

Bluetooth is capable of 700 KB per second, no? I have a 3.2 MP camera, and typically, the pictures are less than 1 MB. So, technically, you could upload around 1 picture per second. We'll see how good Kodak's implementation of bluetooth is and if they can achieve these speeds.

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RE: No way...

By masher2

(blog) on 4/3/2006 11:04:42 AM , Rating: 2

> "Bluetooth is capable of 700 KB per second, no"

721 Kbps actually, or about 90KB. And a 3.2MP image may compress dramatically, but if you want it in raw format, its going to be more like 10 MB. Meaning it'd take about two minutes to transfer.

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RE: No way...

By exdeath on 4/3/2006 1:23:34 PM , Rating: 2

Yeah thats what I thought, it should be close to 90KB/sec and only take 2-3 seconds per image but it takes a long time to transfer things to/from my phone, even when the two radios are right next to each other. It's 100x easier and faster to just copy to the miniSD and plug into a card reader.

As I said I'm using Bitpim using the bluetooth serial profile so the overhead must be huge. What does it do send one bit at a time as a BT packet? ugh

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WiFi

By jtesoro on 4/3/2006 9:49:47 AM , Rating: 2

WiFi is probably the way to go eventually. That way you can even do without a PC and upload the pictures directly to MySpaces or your favorite photo website.

Works well when traveling too. Just find a WiFi hotspot and you're good to go.