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We steeled ourselves last week as we learned that frequent ruiner of things, Will.i.am planned to release a gaudy iPhone case that turned your iPhone’s 8-megapixel camera into a 14-megapixeler. Now we have images and it’s even more garish and ugly than we could have imagined.
As I post this through gagging fits, I look for some logic as to why one would wear one of these £200 abominations around one’s neck as Will.i.am modelled at the launch of the device. Maybe you have always dreamed of having your own Jesus piece, but you just can’t pull it off. This might be the next best thing. It also would match nicely with your golden Gucci iPhone.
But just when the naseau is wearing off, you must know that this thing works with an app called i.am+foto,sosho™. Sound that one out for a second. The case, which Mr. i.am says turns your smart phone into a genius phone, will also appear in a future music video. It goes on sale December 6.
Will.i.am, a man of many talents. He has a Grammy. He wears sunglasses indoors. He produced a special song for the Curiosity Rover. He has angular hair. He poops gold-rimmed iPhone cases.
Side note: the CEO of his company is Chandra Rathakrishnan. You remember Rathakrishnan, right? He was the guy behind the CrunchPad/JooJoo/Grid10. [The Telegraph via MacRumors]
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It’s for twats really.
Maybe William should team up with Scott Forstall next.
I really hope he is making loads of money with his music, otherwise he will be M.C. Hammer broke in no time.
Duh nuh nuh nuh, duh nuuuuhhh nuh…
Don’t touch this
How is this thing supposed to up the megapixel count?
I’m guessing it’s just some sort of software zoom rubbish?
“We have our own sensor and a better flash. You dock your phone into our device and it turns your smartphone into a genius-phone. We take over the camera…
“I was just hanging out [after a photo shoot], and one of the models took an iPhone picture, which circulated the planet before the shoot was even over… I took one of the photographer’s lenses and held it up on my [phone] and said “imagine this one day”. Then I said: “I’m going to do this”.”
And then the eyes of everyone within a 5 mile radius rolled out of their heads.
Hmmm.
I look forward to the Gizmodo review.
it turns your smartphone into a genius-phone
it turns your smartphone into a genius-phone
genius-phone
Nope its uses the iPhones camera
“using the existing iPhone camera while containing interchangeable lenses for standard, fish-eye, and zoom photo capabilities.”
“the advanced models for the iPhone 5 are said to come with a dedicated 14-megapixel sensor and flash but won’t be launching until next year.”
SO is this article about completely the wrong thing?
Oh well, at least it doesn’t have a video of people dying in it.
Well this case only allows you to take pictures using its apps software and its app turn the 8 megapixle photo into 14 megapixle using digital ‘enhancement’.
and yeah good thing no dying people here.
Well.i.never I guess some people will.b.uy any old crap.
Black people? You mean black people right! [innit]
Wrong comment to reply too. Doh!
Stop being racist. ['innit' seems to be used amongst a wider demographic these days]
You haven’t seen how well or works (or doesn’t) yet.
I wouldn’t be surprised if it sells really well. This stuff does appeal to certain races.
Oh dear…
Black people? You mean black people right! [innit]
Did you just go there? Uh uh! No you d’unt!
Ma man aincha baby’s daddy!
I had the same feeling about Beats headphones when they were first announced. Somehow they’re doing well and I lost my respect.
I made no mention of any particular race. Racist bait taken.
You couldn’t have implied it any harder.
Sprints mostly. They’re a bit heavy and bulky for the longer endurance races.
True dat.
I saw one post about it on my Facebook feed. Instant friend removal.
He should call it the Shite.i.Phone
Change the white to black and the gold to grey/aluminium and it might not be too bad. Dimpled black perhaps for a real retro camera look.
That’s what I thought it would look like! I don’t have a problem with real retro, since it tends to look quite… interesting at least. But the nineties obsession with ‘Bling’ retro seems to be coming back. Why?!!?
wasnt Rathakrishnan the bad guy in temple of doom?
anyway, looks tacky, just like william (no, im not adding . for no reason)
Just get myself a tracksuit, a gold chain, get a few teen girls pregnant, hang out around the local shops and big up my mates citreon AX with body kit and dustbin exhaust, then get on Jeremy kyle once all these life dreams are complete I shall add one of these to my collection of wicked going
Going = Bling damn you autocorrect
Off topic here – I remember you said you pre-ordered the Favi Smartstick. Any deets on whether you got it or is it still awaiting release/delivery?
yes i did and i spoke to them last week regarding release date and the said its been delayed by a few weeks here is what they put. so i guess i have a slightly longer wait, but i will do a mini review of it on the Giz G+ circle when i get it
‘I have just received word that we are approximately two weeks behind schedule for the shipment of our FAVI SmartStick. There have been some changes that have been made to better serve our customers. The SmartStick will now include the HDMI Adapter and Wall Power Adapter at no additional expense.’
Cheers, appreciate the update – got that on my “to buy” list.
You still waiting for that thing? Crazy. When i read about that on here i went straight on ebay and bought one (exact same internals, different name on the exact same case) for £29.95 including shipping, along with a bluetooth mouse for £3. Arrived two days later, been streaming movies direct to my tv via ES File Explorer (no server needed, just shared files) ever since…
just received tracking info for a parcel via USPS so i am guessing that is the smartstick as it doesn’t say what the item is, but i haven’t ordered anything else outside of uk, so hopefully its on its way
Great! I’m hoping it does what it says on the tin and is actually usable. Great price too.
me too lol
Kill it. Kill it with fire. Both the phone and Will.i.am.
Personally, I don’t think it’s that ugly.. I believe it’d appeal to those same people who’d buy Dre’s Beats. I’m going to reserve my judgement, until I actually see the quality of image it takes. Sure, may be a glorified lens for +$100.. But then again, Beats seem to sell, and those are outrageously overpriced.
Some knob will buy this. Really they are visual guides so you can avoid such people, which is handy. Like Dr Beats headphones and baseball caps.
I love how you said “Dr Beats” it’s sounds so hilariously out of touch
Does it autotune your voice when you make a call, so your voice sounds better like all his songs?
Because for £200 I’d want to sound like feckin opera singer.
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/11/will.i.am-launch-620.jpg
Am I the only one who really want to hit him in that picture?
quick someone stab me in the eyes please!
If there is one person on the planet with an utterly complete lack of taste, its this guy.
This will go well with the fugly DeLorean he ‘lost’ to get his face in the newspapers
I do like the thinking behind this. Assuming I understood said thinking because most of the time I really don’t understand what this guy is talking about.
Basically, the case itself has its own photo sensor, hardware buttons and interchangeable lenses of hopefully some popular standard like 4/3. There could be a number of different cases depending on the size and quality of the sensor, the type of lens mount and even camera features like shutter/aperture/etc. The phone is used as a digital back with enhanced features like instant sharing, photo editing, geotagging, etc, and as a power source. This is sound thinking and has the potential to find a niche and could do relatively well at £300 – £400 including two kit lenses – zoom and pancake.
Then again, this thing is using the phone’s camera and has a slide out keyboard? WTF?