lingqi's Journal: September 9th, 2003

September 9th, 2003 (8:26pm)

life.regressToNormality();

The above function is still executing, but definitly having its effects.

Over the weekend, I got a new cellphone, one of those picture taking things.

These days, the new 505i model for DoCoMo has been just released, and consequentially all the older phones are being cleared out. My older model, 211i, can be obtained for free (even when doing a phone-exchange) - and the 251i (basically 211 with a camera) is generally around the 5000-6000 yen range. I couldn't resist the temptation and went for one.

Sharp has been advertising for a very long time about their "nifty 3D screen" technology. And to a degree, it is pretty nifty - but it most definitely does not justify this phone compared to the smaller and (i have realized this after the whole deal) much more pleasant panasonic model.

Anyway, the "3D" image is a cross between one of those magic-eye books (where you cross your eyes) and those little stickers / whatever that will display different images as you rotate it. I believe what happens is that the screen has a paralax filter installed in front of it, and it allows (when you eyes are at the proper locations in relation to the screen) an illusion of 3D imagery to be displayed.

To me (I suspect it has to do with the distance between the eyes a great deal, so this is a personal thing), it seems that I can get the best "3D effect" about 60cm away, looking at it dead on. a rotation of even ten degrees horizontally messes up the illusion - and vertically too actually, as vertical rotation makes the image seem skewed in the direction of the viewer.

Not something you can enjoy at the same time with your friends.

Besides the few well-made images that came pre-installed with the camera, one has the option to make pictures 3D and such - however the effect is usually so bad it's not worth it at all (well, I certainly havn't been able to get it to work properly - maybe it's my head that's funny shaped?). The niftiness factor is certainly is not worth its extra weight and size.

The only other thing which I thought was going to be a redeeming factor - the fact that it will take pictures in VGA resolution, is no redemption either. VGA sized pictures can't go anywhere except be downloaded to a computer, and that requires so much trouble (buying a serial cable, installing software, etc) that I might as well be carrying a real digital camera around.

One little neat thing is that there is a light next to the camera lens - apparently it is actually one LCD with three emitters: red, green, and blue. That's probably the only cool thing I know about it so far.

As for changing the phone - you don't get the old phone back; but they will re-enter all of your phone book entries into the new phone (even though it's all arranged strangely). You lose any schedule entries you have pending, though, so be careful.

And also disattach that little belt+clip thing too. I didn't get mine back and it will be about 500 yen for another one. sigh...