Microsoft Files Patent For 1.4 Gigapixel Camera

[Guest]

Can not wait to start GigaPanning with this thing! Wait, isn't that exactly what this is? In truth, M$ is quietly making major advances in gigapixel photography already with their Photosynth team (a part of Bing Maps). Their Photosynth panorama app (for the iPhone, interestingly enough) has earned almost 5 million users in a matter months since it's launch. On it, I can also explore all of my multi-gigapixel panoramic photos (300+ on Photosynth.net, search for "GigaView") that I've shot with a crappy, consumer-grade, 8 Megapixel camera and stiched together with MS ICE (a free software from MS Research). I love the idea that they will put a bunch of CCD's together to sense one lens and, likely, use ICE to stitch. And, yes, I'm a fanboy who loves what the Photosynth team is doing and has done. Go, Go, GigaPixel!

 

[Vladislaus]

[citation][nom]maddad[/nom]Before the Iphone, where were the smart phones? Before the Mac where were the computers using icons, before the Ipad where where were the Zooms, Galaxy Tabs, Touchpads? Before the Mac Air where were the superthing laptops?No I am not a fanboy! Infact I do not now nor have I ever owned a single apple product. But why does everone else wait for apple to see what they are selling and them come to the market with a similar product of their own. Why are they never first and apple is playing catchup???[/citation]
Before the iPhone there were tons of smartphones. The first smartphone was sold in 1993 by IBM, 14 years before the iPhone.
Before the first GUI launched by Apple there was also Xerox. In fact the GUI idea of Apple was stollen from Xerox.
Tablet computers aren't something new. The first commercially available tablet was launched in 1989.
Macbook Air? Have you heard of the Mitsubishi Pedion? It was launched in 1998, 10 years earlier, and it was still thinner than the first generation of the macbook air, despite the claim that Jobs made that it was the thinnest laptop ever made.

 

[blurr91]

[citation][nom]back_by_demand[/nom]Because the average foreign worker is paid less than the average US worker spends on his lunch.If Apple went 100% native and used American workers with all the associated pensions, wage rates, holidays, etc an iPad would cost about $2000.[/citation]

Even then, you'd figure the average iZombie would gladly pay to have the priviledge to use one of Lord Jobs' creations.

 

[QEFX]

[citation][nom]maddad[/nom]Before the Iphone, where were the smart phones? Before the Mac where were the computers using icons, before the Ipad where where were the Zooms, Galaxy Tabs, Touchpads? Before the Mac Air where were the superthing laptops?No I am not a fanboy! Infact I do not now nor have I ever owned a single apple product. But why does everone else wait for apple to see what they are selling and them come to the market with a similar product of their own. Why are they never first and apple is playing catchup???[/citation]

Because we all loved our Newtons, Lisas and NeXT computers so much we have to wait for for Mr. Jobs and Apple before we're allowed to think.

 

[rohitbaran]

[citation][nom]madjimms[/nom]At leased Microsoft actually creates something NEW when they file their patents. *cough* iShit *cough*[/citation]
Well, soon hope to see a lawsuit against microsoft for using camera in their patent. How could they, for a camera exists in iphone!

 

[eddieroolz]

Whoa , a gigapixel! The megapixel race taken to the extreme!