One of the big drawbacks about the iPad 2 is its camera; identical to the iPod touch 4th generation’s camera, it only takes photos at a 960×720 resolution, paling in comparison to the resolution available from the iPhone 4′s camera, if not all iPhone cameras period. This is such low resolution that it is actually smaller than the iPad 2′s screen resolution of 1024×768. This means that users should not expect to be taking fantastic photographs with the iPad 2; and apparently very few people are.

According to Flickr’s stats, there are an average of 36 users per day uploading photos to Flickr from their iPad. Compare this to the over 4000 that upload daily from the iPhone 4 (which is trending toward becoming the most-used camera on Flickr, period), over 3000 that still upload photos from the iPhone 3G, and just under 2000 that upload from the iPhone 3GS per day.  In comparison, the iPod touch 4G, which has an identical camera as the iPad 2, gets 455 users that upload to photos to the site per day, which is enough to make it the 5th most popular ‘cameraphone’ on Flickr; stats are not available for the original iPhone on Flickr.

Granted, there is a definite possibility that the numbers are being skewed by Flickr’s userbase; it may skew more toward photography enthusiasts than the casual photo taker, and the iPad 2′s camera is one that few if any serious photographers would actually use. The percentages may likely be higher on Facebook and Twitter photo services, where casual and convenient photos are more prominent than well-prepared shots, where a higher-quality camera would likely be used.

However, what is clear is that iOS users have definite options to upload photos from the phone to Flickr, as shown by iOS cameras being 4 of the top 5 cameraphones on Flickr. The iPod touch’s inferior camera is still popular enough to make it notable among cameraphones on Flickr. The conclusion is that tablets just may not be devices that users consider as regular cameras. iPhones and iPod touches are devices designed to be carried around in users’ pockets, and can be used to take photos when an opportunity arises. The iPad is usually carried around in a case or a bag, and may not be as immediately available for casual photo taking, and its inferior quality camera dissuades taking high-quality shots as well. Apple may have known this and only put a rear-facing camera in for posterity, rather than for actual usability, because no one is using the iPad 2 to take photos.

Source: PetaPixel

Beginning later this month, and as part of its ongoing mobility strategy, RadioShack have announced that they will be offering both the Apple iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS in a limited number company-owned stores across the US. The stores carrying the device will include stores located in both the Dallas-Fort Worth and New York City metropolitan areas. The company says that it expects to introduce the iPhone into all of its stores in the US, nationwide by the end of the year.

RadioShack is a chain of electronics retail stores, and as of 2008, it had 4,653 company-owned stores, 688 kiosks, 8 service centers, and 1,408 dealer outlets. RadioShack reported net sales and operating revenues of $4.81 Billion.

For those of you keeping up with all of your Apple news today, this won’t come as much of a shock, but the iPhone 3GS has been officially announced and will be available on June 19th. While the phone doesn’t have the often rumored front facing camera, it does have a 3MP camera with auto focus, auto white balance, and a really cool tap to focus feature. Along with that, the iPhone 3GS lets you record 30 fps VGA video with audio, and gives you all the same features that the camera provides. Schiller says that, “I can tap share and send it in an email… (and) if my carrier supports it (AT&T… burn), I can send as an MMS.”

Also included is the new voice control feature which lets you basically talk to your phone, giving you all the more reason to stop talking the people you know and love. If you ask it what song is playing, the phone will happily reply with the song. If you say, play more songs like this, a genius like feature turns on and plays similar songs. The voice command also works with calling, making apps like Vlingo obsolete. Poor, poor Vlingo. Other new features include a built in compass, hardware encryption, and a much needed Nike+ chip. Maybe now I will start running again… thanks Apple.
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