iSK
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Berlin: Visit any tourist destination,
and you're bound to see individuals
and groups taking photos of
themselves for sharing on social
media. It's a declaration to the world
that they were there.
Pop stars such as Rihanna and Justin
Bieber have helped popularise the
trend, too, by posting stylised selfies
to their leagues of followers. Even
politicians are taking selfies with
ordinary folks these days as a way of
showing how close they are to
voters.
So it was only a matter of time
before tech companies responded
with phones and apps specifically
designed to help people take more
and better selfies.
Several phones unveiled at the IFA
tech show in Berlin this week sport
higher-resolution front cameras, so
selfies will come out sharper. Some
even have apps that let you use the
rear cameras, too. That means even
clearer photos - and the use of the
flash, if you need it.
Promoting new phones as the perfect
selfie camera is a natural move for
manufacturers scrambling to stand
out.
"The 'selfie phone' race resembles
the megapixel race for cameras on
the back of the phone," said Gerrit
Schneemann, an analyst at research
firm IHS. "Handset makers try to
satisfy a specific use case by
including more powerful features in
the front camera."
One of the phones Microsoft
announced Thursday, the Lumia 730,
has a 5 megapixel front camera and
software to help users touch up their
image after taking it.
For even better shots, it'll be possible
to take selfies with the 6.7 megapixel
camera on the rear. Users won't be
able to see themselves on the
screen, but an app called Lumia
Selfie will use face-detection
technology and beep to tell users
where to hold the camera.
With a starting price of 199 euros ($
258) before taxes, the phone is likely
to be particularly attractive to
younger buyers and aspiring middle
classes in developing countries.
It also fits neatly with Microsoft's
stated strategy of prioritizing mobile
phones and Internet-based services.
The phones come with sizeable online
storage space on Microsoft's
OneDrive, where users can back up
their photos or share them with
friends.
Microsoft's announcement follows
Samsung's new Galaxy Note phones
unveiled Wednesday. The Note 4 and
the Note Edge come with a special
wide-angle option, which allows
users to fit more people into their
selfies by stitching multiple images
together.
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 to Nokia Lumia 730: 'Selfie' phones unveiled at IFA 2014
and you're bound to see individuals
and groups taking photos of
themselves for sharing on social
media. It's a declaration to the world
that they were there.
Pop stars such as Rihanna and Justin
Bieber have helped popularise the
trend, too, by posting stylised selfies
to their leagues of followers. Even
politicians are taking selfies with
ordinary folks these days as a way of
showing how close they are to
voters.
So it was only a matter of time
before tech companies responded
with phones and apps specifically
designed to help people take more
and better selfies.
Several phones unveiled at the IFA
tech show in Berlin this week sport
higher-resolution front cameras, so
selfies will come out sharper. Some
even have apps that let you use the
rear cameras, too. That means even
clearer photos - and the use of the
flash, if you need it.
Promoting new phones as the perfect
selfie camera is a natural move for
manufacturers scrambling to stand
out.
"The 'selfie phone' race resembles
the megapixel race for cameras on
the back of the phone," said Gerrit
Schneemann, an analyst at research
firm IHS. "Handset makers try to
satisfy a specific use case by
including more powerful features in
the front camera."
One of the phones Microsoft
announced Thursday, the Lumia 730,
has a 5 megapixel front camera and
software to help users touch up their
image after taking it.
For even better shots, it'll be possible
to take selfies with the 6.7 megapixel
camera on the rear. Users won't be
able to see themselves on the
screen, but an app called Lumia
Selfie will use face-detection
technology and beep to tell users
where to hold the camera.
With a starting price of 199 euros ($
258) before taxes, the phone is likely
to be particularly attractive to
younger buyers and aspiring middle
classes in developing countries.
It also fits neatly with Microsoft's
stated strategy of prioritizing mobile
phones and Internet-based services.
The phones come with sizeable online
storage space on Microsoft's
OneDrive, where users can back up
their photos or share them with
friends.
Microsoft's announcement follows
Samsung's new Galaxy Note phones
unveiled Wednesday. The Note 4 and
the Note Edge come with a special
wide-angle option, which allows
users to fit more people into their
selfies by stitching multiple images
together.
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 to Nokia Lumia 730: 'Selfie' phones unveiled at IFA 2014
