Freakin Cool

WiFi Camera Adapters

Posted by samc on August 20th, 2007

The Canon EOS 40D SLR, a 10 Megapixel SLR ($1299, body only), features the new Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E3A a wireless transmitter as well as remote control. It can also be connected to various GPS receivers or Hi-Speed USB 2.0 external storage devices such as flash drives or high-capacity hard drives with much larger storage capacity than the memory cards in the camera for instant back-up as images are captured.

The WFT-E3A wireless transmitter doubles as a vertical grip and requires its own BP-511A battery pack in addition to the battery installed in the camera body. The WFT-E3 supports various protocols including FTP, PTP (remote control) and even has a built-in web server for HTTP browsing of images and remote shutter release.

The WFT-E3A has an expected street price of US$799. DP Review has more on the Canon 40D. With a 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM zoom lens, it runs $1,499. Then add $800 for the WiFi.

Or you could get a Nikon Coolpix S50c that uploads directly to Flickr for less than $350.

I can’t wait for a WiMAX-enabled Nokia Webtablet running ShoZu for Webcasting Concerts. Of course ShoZu isn’t really live and doesn’t really run on the N-800 — yet. Mobiola’s Webcam phone software runs on Nokia phones with a Bluetooth connection to a laptop, while PocketPC Webcam software might eventually run on a WiMAX smartphone with Marvell’s PXA320 processor.

Here’s Dan Kaufman of CrankMyChain.com who webcast live from his bike at Portland’s Tour de Fat this weekend (which also featured The Yard Dogs Road Show, a wonderful cabaret). Dan feeds his Firewire camcorder into his Macbook Pro and backhauls with a Verizon EVDO USB dongle to Stickam.

I’d hate to see his phone bill.

[Sorry about the 20″ of extraneous stuff at the start of this video, my editing software is kaput]

Last week Verizon announced the Sierra Wireless AirCard 595U USB modem, a Rev A upgrade, for faster uploads. They claim customers can expect average upload speeds of 500-800 kbps with download speeds 600 kbps - 1.4 Mbps. The AirCard 595U modem is available for $179 through Verizon after a $50 rebate and a new two-year contract. It also works on Sprint’s EVDO Rev A network.

Sprint’s Linksys EV-DO/Wi-Fi Router costs less than $250 (plus monthly service charge).

Kyocera KR1 Mobile Router (left) announced a free firmware update for faster Revision “A” upload speeds.

The $219 access point now supports a variety of EV-DO Rev. A devices, including the Kyocera KPC680 ExpressCard as well as other Rev A devices including Novatel’s S720 PCMCIA card and U720 USB device, Pantech’s PX-500 PCMCIA card, and UTStarCom’s PC5750 PCMCIA card. Sprint’s Novatel Ovation U720 USB Rev A modem is only $50 (after rebates).

The $700 Junxion Box provides a similar cellular backhaul solution. It’s used on Seattle buses to provide mobile WiFi, so a static (or bike-mounted) webcam shouldn’t be too difficult.

Next year, it’s hard to imagine any significant event NOT being WiFi-enabled.

Consumer hotspots like Zyxel’s box with WiMAX backhaul (right) could enliven any gathering by continuously uploading live still and video coverage to event blogs.

Who will excel at event blogging? Independents and entrepreneurs, of course. That would be you.

Mike Arrington’s TechCrunch reviews Web 2.0 companies offering Live Video:

Stickam (blog) is the oldest of the bunch, launching back in February of 2006, Stickam lets you host your own live show stream and chat on their site or embedded in your own. When you’re show isn’t live, you can show a pictures, audio, or recorded shows on a MySpace-like profile page. The front page of the site features the most recent show and their number of live viewers, which currently are floating around 3,000.

Blogtv.com (blog) launched back in May, and also lets you start your own live show and chat. Every show you record is broadcasted live and then archived. You can subscribe to each show on your account, embed, rate, and recommend them. Live shows are shown on the front page, but you can also review the archived footage in their library.

Mogulus (blog) is yet to get out of private beta, and is focused on live video production tools. Using their tools, you can see how many viewers are waiting for your broadcast and storyboard the show you’re about to broadcast on your own Mogulus URL. With storyboarding, you can drop recorded videos into your feed at cue and even overlay graphics such as logos or titles. You can even collaborate with another producer and cooperatively shape the storyboard.

Justin.tv (blog) is he oddest of the bunch, launched with a splash and then again when police raided their apartment. The novelty of the site centered around one of the co-founders, Justin Kan streaming his life 24/7 from a head cam. Justin.tv has yet to launch an open network, and has instead opted to expand slowly by adding a select number of dedicated “lifecasters”. Each caster gets a live feed, video archive, and chat channel. Instead of just featuring what’s live on the front page, they’ve also developed a “tips” service that lets users dig up key moments.

Ustream.tv (blog) launched back in March, Ustream is another lifecasting network letting anyone plug in and start streaming, similar to Stickam. It’s caught on in the tech crowd with people like Robert Scoble and Cris Pirillo streaming their own shows from offices or on the road at conventions. Each caster gets a profile page where they can post their videos, photos, and thoughts. The player comes with live chat, the ability to archive footage, and embed it on your site.

Robert Scoble compares Kyte.tv and PodTech.net (although neither are “live”). Both support mobile phones like the Nokia N95, but Kyte.tv lets you upload your own videos and you can chat while PodTech is more of a distribution channel. Social media applications like Twitter link through “updates”, up to 140 characters long, via IM, SMS, RSS, email or website. Here’s a Twitter tour.

Related DailyWireless articles include; Webcasting Concerts, Geocoding Photos, What Up at Where 2.0, Wireless GPS Camera, New Smartphones from HTC, Mobilized Routers: Linksys, Sprint & Motorola, Polar Flight Telemetry, GPS Sports Workout Phone, Photo Lat/Long via WiFi, Cingular 8525, Tiny Trackers, Nokia Webtablet Navigator, Marathon Woman, Trip Mapping, 3-D Traffic/Weather Maps, Mapping Goes Live, Mobile Ad Delivery for Traffic.com, WiFi Tracking Tags from AeroScout, PanGo & Ekahau, Geocoding Content & Telemetry, GPS Tracking: In a Shoe, On a Bike, MIT’s SENSEable City, and Cellular Navigation/Tracking.

source : dailywireless.org