cameraphone posts

Camera Phones Robbing College Football Stars of Privacy

by Caleb Johnson (RSS feed) — Sep 17th 2009 at 12:35PM

With camera phones and professional autograph seekers lurking at every party, store, or restaurant, it has become much harder for high-profile college football players to go out in public. There's no quiet campus life for last year's Heisman Trophy finalists and star quarterbacks Sam Bradford, Colt McCoy, and Tim Tebow anymore, says The New York Times.

Tebow told the paper that women try to remove their shirts while posing for a picture with him. McCoy even called the cops because a man was banging on his door and yelling his name late one night. Bradford was repeatedly accosted by an autograph seeker that wanted to profit from his signature.

Tags: cameraphone, college, football, privacy, socialnetworking, sports, top

Cell Phones, Cameras

Cell Phone Pic Leads to Arrest of Subway Perv

by Lee Bains (RSS feed) — Aug 14th 2009 at 12:21PM

Yesterday, New York City police identified and arrested a man wanted for public masturbation, thanks to one concerned citizen and her camera phone.

According to the New York Daily News, 41-year-old Harlem resident Cileane White was minding her own business as she sat on the Number 3 subway train last Friday. Out of nowhere, from across the aisle, Kevin Bishop, 44, of the Bronx, exposed himself to the woman and began to pleasure himself, White told police.

An FBI employee, White displayed a much cooler sense of judgement than we would, using her cell phone to snap a few pictures of Bishop in the act. (Taking a picture of something that foul would be the last thing on our minds.) White later headed to her local police precinct to report the crime. When she tried, though, a female officer apparently told her that the situation "was not a police matter."

Tags: camera phone, CameraPhone, cell phone, CellPhone, crime, gross, new york, NewYork, police, sex offenders, SexOffenders, subway

Cell Phones, Cameras, Tech Tips

Save Your Memory With Your Cell Phone's Camera

by Thomas Houston (RSS feed) — Feb 18th 2009 at 8:30AM

These days we're somehow expected to keep passwords, phone numbers, bank accounts, PIN numbers, and countless other strings of numbers and letters in our memory, and it all needs to be ready for instant recall. Needless to say, we're always look for tips to make modern life easier, and geeksugar has gathered together seven memory-enhancing ways to take advantage of your cameraphone. Here are some of our favorites:

Parking lots at malls, airports, and stadiums continue to grow, so save yourself the trouble of trying to remember where your car is and take a picture of the row number.
Before traveling, take a picture of everything in your suitcase. It takes only a moment, and you'll be glad you've got the documentation in the event your luggage disappears during transit.
Drinking an excellent bottle of wine, but worried you won't remember it in the morning? Snap a shot of the label, and you'll be able to pick up another bottle the next time you're browsing the wine aisle.
Driving around in a city you've never been to? After parking, take a picture of the closest street signs, and you should be able to find your way back without a problem.

We'll admit we've been using the parking space trick for awhile now, and it's saved us countless times (especially in parking garages). A few words of warning though: You may not want to whip out your cameraphone in the airport security line, many museums don't allow picture-taking, and we've got a friend who was bounced from a strip club for surreptitiously snapping shots.

Check out the list for a few other tips, and let us know in the comments if you have any other inventive ways for using that tiny camera on your phone. [From: geeksugar]

Tags: cameraphone, memory, techtip, techtips, tips

Cell Phones, Cameras, Digital Camera

Congressman Wants Cell Phone Cameras to Make Clicking Sound

by Peter Mychalcewycz (RSS feed) — Jan 27th 2009 at 1:41PM

With the economy in free-fall and Congress struggling to keep their own house in order, you would think that cell phone security would be the last thing on a Representative's mind.

New York Republican Rep. Peter King sees it differently. King has introduced a bill that would require cell phone cameras to make some sort of sound when taking a picture. It is called the Camera Phone Predator Alert Act. According to the bill itself, "Congress finds that children and adolescents have been exploited by photographs taken in dressing rooms and public places with the use of a camera phone." The bill calls for every cell phone in the country to make a sound "audible within a reasonable radius of the phone whenever a photograph is taken with the camera in such phone."

Other countries already have laws like this, but this bill apparently has no co-sponsors and is unlikely to pass. Too bad, it sounds like a pretty good idea to us.

Shower safely, America. [From: Wired]

Relevant Links

Tags: camera phone, CameraPhone, cell phone, CellPhone, congress, house of representatives, HouseOfRepresentatives, security

Cameras

How to Improve Your Cameraphone Photos

by Thomas Houston (RSS feed) — Sep 17th 2008 at 1:21PM

While cameraphones have been blessed with additional megapixels over the past few years, it's still tough to get a halfway decent shot with one. Sure, you could buy a dorky add-on lens for your phone (which won't guarantee good pictures), or you could keep in mind a few simple tips when you whip out your cameraphone to snap a spontaneous shot or two.

Popular Mechanics recommends three easy areas that can improve your cameraphone shots: lighting, composition, and steady hands. Of course, most cameraphones don't have a built-in flash, so you'll want to optimize your lighting as much as possible. Popular Mechanics recommends you keep the surrounding light shining on your subjects for a good shot, so you might need to move yourself around to get decent lighting. If you're outside and it's extremely sunny, you'll want to keep the sun behind you.

You've probably heard of the rule of thirds (a classic photographic principle where you break down the frame into 9 parts), but to keep it simple, just think about creating interesting compositions: Move your friends out of the center of the frame, keep the horizon near the top or bottom of your screen, and look for interesting balances of lights and shadows.

Also, keep it steady. Cameraphones are notoriously fickle (especially in low light), and your pics will turn out better if you stay still -- Popular Mechanics says you can stabilize your phone by propping your elbow against something solid (for example, a wall or a table).

We'll add one of our own: Get closer! You've probably heard this as a tip for regular cameras for years, but we promise it will help -- fill the frame with your subject, whether it be your friends on vacation, your kids at a sporting event, or a funny pet snapshot. Very few cameraphones actually have an optical zoom, so take advantage of the limitations of your phone and move in closer. Finally, please stay away from the digital zoom -- if will merely make your pictures even more pixelated.

Looking for some more photo tips? Check out our one-on-one interview with a pro photographer at the US Open. [From: Popular Mechanics]

Tags: cameraphone, photography

Cell Phones, Cameras

A Zoom Lens for Your Camera Phone

by Thomas Houston (RSS feed) — Apr 3rd 2008 at 3:22PM

If you find yourself wishing for a zoom lens for your camera phone, Green House's "Mobile Telescope Lenz" might be exactly what you're looking for. The Green House kit comes with an 8x zoom lens and a small tripod designed to accept most camera phones.

We're not totally sure how the system works, but it appears that you line up your phone's lens with the adapter (connected to the 8x zoom) and then operate the zoom by manually twisting the add-on lens. The quality of your photos probably won't improve, but now you've got "telescope lenz" capabilities.

The Mobile Telescope Lenz retails for $88, though we don't know if it will be available in the States anytime soon. In case you're interested in Green House's other offerings, the company also sell a variety of hamburger and pizza-shaped USB Flash Drives.

From Engadget

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Tags: cameraphone, cellphone, ctia 2008, ctia2008, japan

Cell Phones

Student Busted for Cell Phone Shots of His Pot Plants

by Tim Stevens (RSS feed) — Sep 12th 2007 at 12:22PM

If you needed any more proof that smoking pot turns your brain cells to dust, consider this morning's UPI story of an Italian university student who recently used his cell phone to snap a picture of himself standing proudly in front of his crop of marijuana plants. The student was so pleased with the photo that he made it his cell phone's wallpaper background, allowing him to show off his anti-establishment cred to anyone who cared to look.

But, that bravado would come back to bite the unnamed student in the ass when he misplaced his fanny pack, which contained the phone. And yes, we said 'fanny pack.'

The pack and its contents were found by a good Samaritan and turned over to the police. Of course, when the cops saw the picture on the cell phone they tracked the student down and asked him about it. Unfortunately, his stick-it-to-the-man attitude was but a facade. He quickly crumbled, admitted to growing the marijuana plants and led police right to them, after which he was promptly arrested.

We could warn you to be careful about what you photograph with your cell phone, but that's not the real lesson here. The lesson to this story is, simply: Don't be an idiot.

From United Press International

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Tags: arrested, breaking+news, camera phone, CameraPhone, marijuana, pot, top

Cell Phones

Camera Phone Nabs Perv on NYC Subway

by Evan Shamoon (RSS feed) — Aug 23rd 2007 at 9:21AM

In New York City, a subway pervert has been nailed thanks to a camera phone – unfortunately, this story has nothing to do with Subway's Jared Fogel or those recent allegations that he was the porno king of his college.

No, this scum goes by the name of Jay Arungah. He's accused of exposing himself and molesting a 30-year-old woman on New York's B and Q subway lines. According to the victim, Arungah stared at her before exposing himself and lighting a cigarette. When she moved, Arungah followed. When the victim tried to escape at the next station, he pressed himself against her.

When the woman was finally able to escape the train, Arungah followed her. She reached a phone and dialed 911, but not before pulling out her camera phone and snapping a photo of Arungah. When police arrived, Arungah was arrested.

While the victim in this case chose to share the photo of her assailant with police, a site we recently reported on allows women to share similar photos with the entire Internet. HollaBackNYC is a site where women can snap camera phone shots of pervs making cat calls or inappropriate gestures, and then upload and blog about them (location, what was said, etc.).

And, as if perverts in New York didn't have it hard enough already with HollaBack, city councilman Peter Vallone Jr has just introduced a so called 'Peeping Tom Law' that would make leering sexually at another person a crime punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $500 fine. Vallone introduced the legislation after several female constituents complained of a man standing under the stairwell at a particular subway station each morning to catch peeks up skirts.

From Gothamist

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Tags: assault, breaking+news, camera phone, CameraPhone, harrassment, subway, top

Cell Phones

Have Camera Phone, Will Wallpaper

by Tim Stevens (RSS feed) — Apr 18th 2007 at 2:30PM

Back in the day, cell phone providers and other companies used to charge upwards of a buck to download tiny pictures of things like beaches, birds, or babes with which to plaster your cell phone default screen. However, sales and downloads of those images have been on the decline according to a recent study. The reason? Camera phones. Not surprisingly, people prefer to put their own pictures on display on their phones. And with camera phones counting for over half of all cell phones in the US, there aren't all that many mobile users left who can't take their own pics.

So, pity the poor mobile providers who can't sell you expensive pictures anymore? Not quite. Along with the decline in mobile wallpaper sales the use of photo and video messaging has skyrocketed, so they're still making money.

From BBC News

Tags: Camera Phone, CameraPhone, Wallpaper

Cameras

Best Buy Perv Videotapes Customer

by Terrence O'Brien (RSS feed) — Apr 13th 2007 at 12:00PM

Sarah Vasquez of Pomona, CA, needed help getting her computer fixed. But when Hao Kuo Chi of Best Buy's Geek Squad arrived at her door, he helped himself to a peek at Vasquez in the buff. Chi waited until Vasquez entered the shower, at which point he allegedly slithered into the bathroom with his camera phone, hit the record button and slithered out.

When Vasquez emerged from the shower, she noticed the phone resting behind the sink with its recording light on. The memory card was immediately removed from the phone, which Chi then attempted to win back by offering discounts on his service -- presumably the services that don't involve humiliating customers and staining his company's reputation. Vasquez refused and Chi was later arrested. She and her family are now filing a lawsuit against the retail giant. Of course, no one's asking the question: Who takes a shower with a stranger in the house?

From CBS

Tags: best buy, BestBuy, breaking+news, cameraphone, geek squad, GeekSquad, top

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'Black Friday' Deals to Watch For

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Black Friday' Deals to Watch For

Traditionalists might balk, but the holiday shopping season is already underway. Skeptical? Head to your local department store and you'll be inundated by Christmas trees and ornaments. Bargain hunters, though, know that the real deals are more than a month away.

Black Friday, traditionally, is when retailers truly slash prices. Early birds can save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars off of their holiday bills. Switched.com checked with a few elves, who gave a sneak peek at what you can expect deal-wise this year.

Blu-ray Players and Movies: Blu-ray is shaping up to be the biggest door buster of this year's Black Friday. de Grandpre expects at least one retailer will offer a Blu-ray player for just $49. Look for bargains on Blu-ray films as well, with last year's hit titles (such as "Iron Man") to fall as low as $5.

Laptops: With the proliferation of Netbooks this year, it's never been easier to find affordable portable computing, but Dan de Grandpre, CEO of DealNews.com says it will get even cheaper on Black Friday. Look for well-equipped Netbooks to sell for $199 – and basic 15" laptops to go for as little as $249.

HDTVs (Pretty big): The holidays are typically the best time to buy a new TV – and Black Friday is the time to do it. If you're looking for a normal sized set, you're in luck. Piper Jaffrey analyst Mitch Kaiser says he expects to see 32-inch LCD sets for as low as $299. GottaDeal.com is estimating 37-inch plasma and LCD sets will fall to $399 or less.

HDTVs (Really big): Need something bigger? How about a 46-47 inch LCD set for $599 – a 25 percent savings? Or a 52-inch LCD for $999? Dealnews says you can expect both. Plasma deals will be a little harder to come by, but a 50-inch set should run roughly $899.

HD Camcorders: You've wanted to shoot your child's school play in HD for a while, but haven't been able to spring for the pricey camcorder. This might be the year. Low-end, flash-based 720p models could drop as low as $60 (though you won't be able to zoom with those). Expect a high quality 1080p HD camcorder for $349.

GPS: While navigation systems have dramatically expanded their reach this year – even making it onto the iPhone – there's still a market for car-based systems. Dealnews predicts you'll be able to find a no-name entry-level system for $49, while a Garmin or Tom-Tom brand will be as low as $69.

Digital Picture Frames: Showcasing your digital pictures consistently gets cheaper. This year, skip the 7-inch screens and focus on the 8- or 9-inch ones, which should be available on Black Friday for as little as $30.

Monitors: Computer monitors might not be the sexiest of gifts, but they're usually welcomed with open arms – and they'll be cheap this year. Name brand 22-inch LCD models may go for as low as $99, while 24-inch models will drop below $150.

Memory: Don't know anyone who needs a monitor? External hard drives are always popular, since they're an easy way to back-up data. Dealnews expects a 1TB drive to fall as low as $49 this year. Gottadeal is looking for 8GB flash drives to hit $15.

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