ST90 New Samsung Digital Camera

Following is a review of the slim ST90 digital camera.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGebC1XbYZE

Slim, slimmer, Samsung ST70

Following is a long review of Samsung's new ST70 slim digital camera.
Taking 14.2M high pixels pictures with Smart Auto

Compact cameras keep being developed by improving previous functions and adding new functions. Even though it’s really compact and small, sometimes it’s really difficult to use. That’s why complicated functions need to be simplified with adding functions at the same time. That means the convergence comes together with simplicity.

Recently, Samsung(http://www.samsungimaging.com/) has released the ST70 and ST60 having slim design and functions. They have reduced the complexity of use by accenting frequently used functions. Let’s take a look at the slim function and design of the ST70.

Slim design fitting with suit

The non-glossy type silver body looks neat feeling like a silver suit. The ST70 has a slim body with 16.6mm of thickness (The ST60 has 16.5mm), but it looks slimmer due to the silver color. Except the battery, it weighs only 120g, so there’s no problem to put in a shirt pocket. Since the top with the shutter button has been designed with slant, it’s comfortable to hold the body and push the shutter. The silver color, simple design, slim size and light weight fit well to both young generation and businessmen in suits.

Image Sensor	Type	1/2.3″ (Approx. 7.76mm) CCD
	Effective Pixel	Approx. 14.20 Mega pixel
	Total Pixel	Approx. 14.48 Mega pixel
Lens	Focal Length	Samsung Lens f = 4.9 ~ 24.5mm (35mm film equivalent : 27~135 mm)
	F No.	F3.5(W) ~ F5.9(T)
	Digital Zoom	Still Image mode : 1.0X ~ 5.0X Play mode : 1.0X ~ 13.5X (depends on image size)
Image Stabilization		Dual IS (OIS + DIS) * OIS (Optical Image Stabilization), DIS (Digital Image Stabilization)
Display	Type	TFT LCD
	Feature	2.7" (6.86cm), QVGA
Viewfinder		N/A
Focusing	Type	TTL Auto Focus (Center AF, Multi AF, Tracking AF)
	Range	Normal : 80cm ~ infinity Macro : 10cm~80cm (Wide), 50cm ~ 80cm (Tele) Auto Macro : 10cm~Infinity (Wide), 50cm~ Infinity (Tele)
Shutter Speed		Smart Auto : 1/8 ~ 1/2,000 sec. Program : 1 ~ 1/2,000 sec. (Night Scene : 8 ~ 1/2,000 sec.) Fireworks : 2 sec.
Exposure	Control	Program AE
	Metering	Multi, Spot, Center-weighted
	Compensation	±2EV (1/3EV steps)
	ISO Equivalent	Auto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200
Flash	Modes	Auto, Auto & Red-eye reduction, Fill-in flash, Slow sync, Flash off, Red eye fix
	Range	Wide : 0.2m ~ 3.5m, Tele : 0.5m ~ 2.1m
	Recharging Time	Approx. 4 sec.
Power Source		Rechargeable battery : BP70A Connector Type : 20pin
Physical Specification	Dimensions (WxHxD)	96.3×55.8×16.6mm
	Weight	Approx. 120g (except for a battery)
	Operating Temperature	0 ~ 40°C
	Operating Humidity	5 ~ 85%

Effective 14.2 Mega pixels & 2.7” LCD

The ST70 has effective 14.2 Mega pixels. Taking pictures in maximum resolution (4320x3240), a poster sized picture (A1) can be printed out. As a compact camera, it supports quite high pixels and compared with DSLRs, it’s higher than entry level DSLRs. If you want to buy a camera for printing out, the ST70 will be a good product. It supports 4:3 standard ratio with 3:2 and 16:9. The ST60 supports effective 12.2M pixels in the maximum resolution of 4000x3000.

It has adopted 230K pixels 2.7” TFT LCD screen. The outdoor visibility of the LCD is good, but due to its silver color of the ST70, it looks a little darker than a black body product.

Optical 5x zoom

The ST70 supports optical 5x zoom. (The ST60 supports optical 4x zoom.) Using it with digital 5x zoom together, maximum 25x zoom is available. Pulling the lever to the right, the image is zoomed in and to left, it goes back. The lever can be adjusted by an index finger, so it’s much easier to control than buttons. There’s no time delay after moving the lever, so users can take a precious moment quickly.

One touch Smart Auto

Smart Auto automatically recognizes various scenes and help users take perfect shots. By pushing the button located on the left top once, users can activate it. It automatically recognizes 17 different scenes, so even beginners can easily take great shots.

Dual IS minimizing hand shake

Dual IS minimizes hand shake by applying OIS and DIS together. Small and light compact cameras are vulnerable to hand shake. Especially, when zooming, it gets worse, so IS function becomes more important. In general shooting, OIS can be selected and when it’s insufficient, Dual IS can be also activated to get stronger effects. (The ST60 only supports DIS.)

Video recording function with various atmospheres

It can record up to 1280x720 size movies. 640x480 and 320x240 can also be recorded for uploading on web sites, and in 320x240, 60 fps is supported. By using the zoom, various types of videos can be recorded. In order to prevent noise from being recorded while zooming, you can select ‘Mute while zooming’ in voice option. Using Photo Style or Smart Filter together, various movies can be created. By applying Vignetting effect in Smart Filter, classical and emotional video recording is available. Maximum 20 minutes of movie can be recorded.

*320x240 - 60fps recording

Macro

Macro is one of the photographers’ favorite modes, because Macro can catch the detailed scene which we generally couldn’t see. The ST70 supports 10cm Macro mode, so it’s enough to take flowers, insects, spaghetti, pizza, and something like that. Pushing the down button of the direction key, the mode changes to Macro mode from normal shooting mode.

Maximum ISO 3200

It supports ISO from 80 to 3200. Increasing ISO appropriately, users can take bright pictures under the low light condition. That’s why camera makers are trying to increase the range of ISO. However, too high ISO value makes the quality worse, so users need to find out the appropriate ISO. The ST70 keeps clean image quality in up to ISO 400 and from ISO 800, it’s getting more noise. In ISO 1600 and 3200, the noise distorts the colors much, so it’s better to use at night not in the day time.

Face Recognition

The ST70 supports various Face Recognition functions. It recognizes faces and automatically sets the focus and exposure, and detects smile and shoots. When registering faces, it prioritizes those faces to set focus and exposure. It also supports Blink Detection and Self Guide making beeping sound when recognizing a face.

Beauty Shot

Beauty shot corrects skin tone and brightness in 3 levels to make clean and flawless faces. In scene mode, Beauty Shot can be selected and by pushing Fn button, skin tone and brightness can be adjusted. You don’t need to worry about flaws on your face any more.

Tracking AF

Tracking AF is very useful when taking moving subjects. It’s following a moving subject such as my kid riding sled or something and set the focus. Users don’t need half shutter any more to keep the focus, so beginners can easily take shots.

Photo Style

The ST70 supports 11 Photo style modes. If normal shooting is a little boring or too simple, you can just apply one of them such as Sketch, Defog, Soft, Vivid, Forest, Retro, Cool, Calm, Black and White, and Negative to your pictures. These are frequently used effects when using image editing software and they can make smooth feelings. By using Custom RGB, you can make your own pictures.

Let’s play with Smart Filter

Let’s take fun pictures. 4 Smart Filter consist of Miniature, Vignetting, Fish eye 1, and 2. Miniature makes a picture look like a toy by blurrying the upper and lower side of the picture. It’s useful for those who like figure shots and to apply toy effect to a building. Vignetting filter makes Pin hall camera feeling by darkening the surroundings, and fish eye filter distorts the picture by blackening the edges.

Built-in Intelli-Studio

Intelli-Studio is convenient software supporting management of pictures and videos, editing, and uploading on the Internet. Users don’t need to download or install this software. Just by connecting the ST70 to a computer via USB cable, Intelli-Studio is automatically executed.

Slim, slimmer, Samsung ST70

Taking 14.2M high pixels pictures with Smart Auto

When googling cameras, there are a lot of expensive cameras with unnecessary functions. On the other hand, the ST70 is a practical compact camera. I think it will appeal to users who want useful functions and elegant design.

Read more from http://www.segadget.com/entry/548

Silver Award by Accelenation.com: Samsung YP-T10

Samsung's YP-T10 has received a Silver award from Accelenation.com. Its article is described below.

Introduction
Samsung has long been a player in the MP3 market along with the likes of companies such as Creative. However, most of these companies have been relatively unsuccessful in breaking into the market the way that Apple has with the iPod. Now with iPods everywhere, Samsung is trying to attract part of this market with the YP-T10, a slim, video-enabled, digital audio player. How does it stack up?

The Test
Let's go through a list of features offered by the YP-T10.

The Samsung YP-T10 comes in various storage capacities, including 2GB, 4GB and 8GB. The 8GB version was the one tested here. It also comes with a small QVGA screen (320 x 240) for the UI and for playing videos.
Some "extra" features from the basic set include support for FM radio, voice recording as well as Bluetooth compatibility.

The rated battery life is 30 hours for audio and 4 hours for video, which is quite impressive for a digital media player. It also takes only 2.5 hours to charge up the battery. Play speed can be adjusted (i.e. increased by several factors) as well as EQ presets (and user adjustments) courtesy of DNSe.

The YP-10's front is finished with a glass plate to give it a sophisticated and clean look. Under the glass panel, you'll find the QVGA screen along with a light up control pad. The control pad dims off when there is no user feedback. The display does not span the whole front of the player and it is not a touch-screen UI, but nevertheless an interesting concept.

The power button is located on the right hand side of the player. You slide and hold that position to turn it on. Upon power up, you'll be greeted by a cartoon dog appropriately named "Sammy". Afterwards, the keypad lights up with the controls and once the music starts playing, the dog starts jumping around on screen.

As previously mentioned, if there is no user input, then both the keyboard light and the screen turn off to conserve the battery.
The UI on the YP-T10 provides the user with many options to adjust. The "Sound Effect" options allow the user to turn on "Street mode" and adjust "Clarity" for a better experience when out and about.

There also a range of DNSe EQ presets such as: Normal, Studio, Rock, Classical, Jazz, Ballad, Club, Rhythm & Blues, Dance, Concert Hall as well as a User mode. The User mode allows adjustments of EQ, bass as well as 3D.

Play speed can be adjusted anywhere from 0.7x to 1.3x although listening to an MP3 at 1.3x speed sounds like the Chipmunks singing.

In terms of audio quality, the default settings with the provided headphones seem to deliver a rich sound that is better in my opinion to the defaults of other audio players I have tested. The bass is acceptable and the 3D effect is fairly apparent.

The touch pad looks nice although sometimes the response lags a bit and because the keys are close together, people with larger fingers might find it hard to press the desired key.
When holding the player in the hand there is the possibility that one of the keys may be pressed accidentally. A useful feature would have been a keypad lock to reduce the likelihood of this happening.

Transferring files to the player is quite easy with the supplied USB 2.0 cable. You treat the player as a storage device in Windows and drag the files directly to it. The player supports MP3 and WMA.

In terms of video support, the formats are limited to mostly WMV (no DiVX). Even so, some WMV files I downloaded didn't seem to play.
Watching the pre-loaded trailers on the screen gave fluid playback, although watching a movie on a 2.5" screen takes some getting used to.

Conclusion

Although a nice concept, the touch pad still needs to be tweaked for better responsiveness. I'd prefer manual buttons versus these controls because on occasion I found it hard to press the right key. The screen is also quite small for watching video. This could be increased but I guess at the expense of battery life.

Overall, the Samsung YP-T10 offers plenty of features, good storage capacity and a reasonable interface all in a small, stylish package. Support for Bluetooth, direct USB file transfer and audio EQ DNSe, give this player a leg up on the competition. The 4GB version of the YP-T10 is available for around $119 Canadian.

Images of Samsung YP-S3 MP3 Player

Samsung is releasing YP-S3 MP3 player soon. Here are images of YP-S3.
There are various colors.

Like an iPod, S3 has a pretty docking station. It looks like a little spaceship.

Here are the earphones.Black is also available.