Nokia debuts phone with 41-megapixel image sensor

by Hedirman Supian

Updated 09:18 PM Feb 28, 2012

BARCELONA - Nokia has announced a phone with a 41-megapixel image sensor and new smartphones to expand its Lumia range of Windows Phone-based devices.

The Nokia 808 Pure View built-in camera has a 41-megapixel image sensor. PHOTO COURTESY NOKIA




The Finnish mobile phone maker debuted its new offerings at the annual Mobile World Congress held in Barcelona, Spain - the world's largest trade show for mobile phones.

At presentation held to introduce its new devices, Nokia chief executive Stephen Elop said the Finnish company is "demonstrating the actions necessary to improve the fortunes of Nokia".

Nokia unveiled the 808 PureView smartphone (picture), which has a built-in camera with a 41-megapixel image sensor - the largest to be included in a phone so far. During its presentation, it showed audiences large-scale prints that demonstrated the high image quality of photos shot with the camera. The phone maker displayed how high-resolution photos taken with the camera would allow users to crop, zoom or reframe the images with little degradation in detail or quality. The camera also includes optics made in collaboration with lens maker Carl Zeiss. The 808 PureView has a 4-inch screen, a 1.3GHz processor and runs on the Symbian Belle operating system. According to Nokia, the 808 can also record audio at "CD-like levels of quality".

The phone's high-resolution imaging system will be introduced in upcoming devices, said Nokia's executive vice president of smart devices, Jo Harlow: "We are planning to bring this technology to other devices in our future portfolio."

Nokia also introduced a version of its flagship smartphone, the Lumia 900, which retails 480 euros (S$810), that will be available globally in the second quarter of 2012. The Windows Phone-based device was earlier launched in January and was aimed at the US market, with its initial support for LTE (Long Term Evolution) networks - the next generation standard for ultra-fast mobile connectivity. The new version of the Lumia 900 that was announced can support current 3G networks and is capable of download speeds of up to 42.2 Mbps. Apart from its fast connectivity, the phone features a 4.3-inch touch display, an 8-megapixel camera and is powered by a 1.4GHz processor. It is also the only phone in Nokia's Lumia line that features a front-facing camera.

It also debuted the Lumia 610 (189 euros), its most affordable Windows Phone-based smartphone yet. The smartphone features a 3.7-inch touch display, runs on an 800MHz processor and includes a built-in 5-megapixel camera.

Both Lumia smartphones will be available in the second quarter of 2012.

Nokia also launched three new 2G phones - the Asha 202, 203 and 302 - which aims to bring games, support for Microsoft Exchange and touch screens to consumers in emerging markets at low price points. The phones run on Nokia's Series 40 operating system and range from 60 to 95 euros in price.

Source: www.todayonline.com/TechandDigital/Digital/EDC120227-0000159/Nokia-debuts-phone-with-41-megapixel-image-sensor