Future iPhone HD 1080p?

[wwooden]

I don't think we need to see much higher resolution in the iPhone, unless the screen gets bigger. But even then, I don't think we will see a higher pixel density, just more to span the larger area.

Only thing I would like to see with the iPhone is for it to be able to play AppleTV quality videos; that way I don't have to choose between having one rip for my AppleTV and one optimized for my iPhone/iPod. I feel like I have to sacrifice either way. I don't care if it isn't playing in full-rez or in 5.1 on the phone, but it would be nice if it could just play it back to simplify my video library.

 

[bruinsrme]

yeah 1080p and 7.1 surround sound.

 

[sammich]

Hmm...so does everyone go out and buy this new iPhone HD, JB/hack it with some external storage and replace the inferior AppleTV?

At least Apple doesn't have an excuse not to have full 1080p output on the TV

 

[t0mat0]

Could a v3 iPhone have HD level video recording (lets say 720p) capabilities without making the external back with the optics etc pretty large/obvious/obtrusive?

Pictures of 3 decent current HD pocket video cameras attached.

The problem it seems is partially the optics etc. You've just got to give more internal space, more back space for the optics etc. Compared with a low Mpixel CMOS sensor and lens, it takes up much more space it would seem. Looking at some new models being shown at MWC, e..g Idou, or some previous 8Mpixel phones, they seem to take up a fair old space. The N86 seems to take less, with some Carl Zeiss optics.

http://www.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/samsung_12-megapixel_phone-480x265.jpg

It's not as simple as handsets that are more cameras than phones vs phones that have cameras it seems these days either.

Will Apple have put some work into the CMOS sensor to minimise problems (which can lead to pictures like this?
Speeding up the rolling shutter, or making a global shutter/

Apple went with Micron for the CMOS afaik - "a 1/4″ CMOS sensor with a pixel size of 2.2µm x 2.2µm (most probably Micron’s MT9D112D00STC)" (ref). Costing ~$5-10 apparently.

So what can Micron cmos image sensor can you get from Micro for 5-10 bucks, in 2009? Micron Imaging is Now Aptina Imaging, but you can see there list of SOC and sensors here. If anyone wants to do some sleuthing, to see what Micron component we might get?

Then we can start talking about what resolution we might get with a v3 iPhone come summer...

As for HD output? Pplace your bets on Apple having Tegra. mmm, possibilities... Demo here of Tegra - see the middle video of a HD TV linked up to a phone. We just need to get rid of the wires...
Some more videos here

That Tegra APX slide. Something akin to Coverflow, and a iPhone rival on the RHS?

 

[kdarling]

I have no problem with a phone being thicker to allow for a good camera, if it has nice optics, flash etc.

In other words, a Cybershot + touch phone sounds good to me.

Many of us end up putting thicker cases around our iPhones anyway.

Others have no use for combining a nice camera, and that's fine too. There should be models for everyone's taste.

 

[t0mat0]

I have no problem with a phone being thicker to allow for a good camera, if it has nice optics, flash etc.

In other words, a Cybershot + touch phone sounds good to me.

...<SNIP> Others have no use for combining a nice camera, and that's fine too. There should be models for everyone's taste.

The Sony camera/touchscreen/phone does look good - bringing a different UI/enhanced UI to a camera in a way.

Thinking "Apple should..." is a tortous thing.
Refreshes, hardware bumps, hardware choices, Mac lineups...
"Apple could..." being only slightly better hehe.

 

[DoFoT9]

For taking HD videos, perhaps.

it doesnt need an HD screen to play it back though... the storage space is still rediculous though. yay lets record 5 minutes