In the U.S., it's pretty unusual for mobile phone users to do anything other than talk or take pictures with their phones, and even picture-taking isn't as widespread as you think. But in the coming months and years, look for that to change dramatically.
Stage one: Mobile gaming. It won't be like video or computer gaming, because it can't be. Tiny screens, tiny buttons and tiny time frames all limit the cellphone to upstart games like Doom creator John Carmack's "Orcs and Elves," id Software's first new title since "Quake" debuted in 1996.
And what else can you do with a cellphone? Why not shoot video? Nokia's upcoming N93 replaces their current N90 by pumping up the megapixels to 3.2, adding in support for everything from Bluetooth to WiFi, and when you plug in a 2.0gig SD card and point it at your kids making mudpies in the backyard, you can record 90 minutes of MPEG4 video at 30 frames per second in VGA resolution, then plug it directly in to your TV to watch the fun -- or load it onto your computer and edit your first instant movie masterpiece.
Big ass N93 review here. I'm salivating already.
The N93 won't be cheap when it comes out in July (look for a $650-$750 price tag) and you'll only be able to get it at Nokia's new flagship stores in Chicago and New York, but I'm willing to bet there's enough early adopters out there to prove that a camcorder phone is more camcorder than phone.
Personally, all the gadgets crammed into my phone go to waste. I need a camera, I bought a canon. I need games, I got a DS. I need video, well, I don't generally carry a camcorder around, so I'll do just fine with my memory. Besides, video in your head is always easier to edit.
Posted on May 28, 2006 11:15 PM
Posted on: 06:47PM | 1 Comments | Permalink