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Rumor: Will Apple add a camera flash to the iPhone?

Isn't competition wonderful? Apple Insider is citing a well-placed source saying Apple is grabbing significant quantities of LED flash devices for use in the iPhone -- possibly for the iPod touch as well, if Apple decides to add a camera to that product.

"People familiar with Apple's initiative claim the electronics maker is seeking allotments of LED camera flash components in the tens of millions for delivery during the 2010 calendar year, meaning future iPhones -- and possibly the iPod touch -- are the most likely recipients of those parts, due to their sales volume. Those same people say that Philips' Lumileds Lighting sector is believed to be the front-runner for Apple's business and may have already secured the design win. "

Other reports say Apple has placed an order with Omnivision Technologies for 5 megapixel camera sensors. The current 3.2 megapixel Apple currently offers is looking a bit stale in light of 5 MP chips on some of the newer Android phones. I wouldn't be surprised to see multi-tasking finally make it to the iPhone in an upcoming iteration as well.

While Apple has a top selling smartphone, the competition will certainly push Apple into adding more features to keep a dominant position. Google Voice and Google Navigation anyone?


Isn't competition wonderful? Apple Insider is citing a well-placed source saying Apple is grabbing significant quantities of LED flash...
 

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Jack

Hi, meanwhile these happens I look for a solution and find one at iatnight.com where I bought a case with extra battery and a camera flsh to start taking cool picture where the light is poor.

Great product for the price, very recommended!!

January 13 2010 at 12:56 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
kona2010

Any improvement on the iPhone will be great but a 5 mega pix will not make buy a new one. With that said, Phones are not meant to replace cameras. If you want super clear pictures buy a camera.
I will however buy a new phone if the chip is faster , bigger hard drive or apple allows multitasking on the 4g.
Finally, what if apple come out with an external flash that can be added to any phone via USB. Would anyone buy it?
Just adding my $0.02.

January 11 2010 at 10:23 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to kona2010's comment
BB

How about an iphone camera lens that PIVOTS around. It can point forward... or back... for taking pictures... or for making video-calls.

January 12 2010 at 12:49 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
glad

Multitasking what a waste of battery life!!! better camera yes please oh but that means i'll have to buy a new phone and with it a new contract!!

January 10 2010 at 8:47 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jeff

What, these can't be components for the iPad or Slate or whatever? :)

January 10 2010 at 6:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Janne

@Jordan

Anyone with working eyes and functional brain would see that Droid is NOT the better of the two. Hell, Ihnatko himself said so, and he was the person who took the pictures! Few examples:

iPhone:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/andyi/4075812456/in/set-72157622609402533/

Droid:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/andyi/4075811740/in/set-72157622609402533/

Are you SERIOUSLY going to claim that the washed out, gray picture that the Droid took is superior to the one taken with the iPhone? Really?!? On the Droid the apples look like they have a layer of dust covering them!

What about the picture of the dessert? According to you, the picture taken with the Droid is better? Now you might say that "he used wrong settings!". But that just goes to show that "superior specs" don't help you one bit if the feature is so badly implemented that user doesn't use the "advanced features". And what the hell did Droid do to the white-balance on that pic?

What about the mannequins? iPhone has noce colors and good saturation. Droid is washed out and gray.

Seriously, are we looking at same pictures here?? Who on their right mind would say that the Droid takes better pictures? I'll tell you who: Someone who simple cannot ever admit that Apple does something better than someone else does. No, Apple must be inferior, even it the pictures show otherwise!

And here you go again, wondering why you were called out for complaining. Well, duh! What else do you call whining about Apples products and/or the way they improve their products like you did here? Am I saying that Apple is beyond critique? Not at all! But that's ALL you do! Complain all the time, in every possible discussion. Complain, complain, complain.

Seriously, I have NEVER seen you say anything nice about them, ever. All I have ever seen from you is whining and complaining. All... the.... frigging.... time...

January 10 2010 at 2:41 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Janne's comment
etwashoo5

Sorry dude, the Droid pictures are superior. Color can be changed. Lack of detail cannot.

January 10 2010 at 3:08 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jarrett

UFC adding a new fight to UFC 109.

This fight should be great considering the "smartphone" wars.

http://web.me.com/u1019/applebythehour/AppleByTheHour.html

January 10 2010 at 2:23 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mitchell Scott

Well it simply makes sense that as the iPhone evolves, it'll get features to let it compete. It's important to remember that Apple only updates the iPhone once a year, but new competitors are popping up every few months.

That being said, the iPhone's camera is quite decent already. In my experience, jumping from 3.2 megapixels to 5 isn't as big as say 2 to 5 megapixels.

January 10 2010 at 2:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Mitchell Scott's comment
Mitchell Scott

And by from 2 to 5 I mean from 2 to 3.2 MP.

January 10 2010 at 2:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Allan

The iPhone camera is fine without a flash, and most photos taken with a flash look horrible. Leave it alone.

January 10 2010 at 9:29 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
lane

yes

January 10 2010 at 12:14 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
robc.03

I'd be THRILLED if they would just manage to work something out to get Adobe Flash on the phone already...forget a camera flash.

January 09 2010 at 11:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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