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Samsung Pixon 8-megapixel camera phone: Pixon, Pix-off

The Samsung Pixon is the latest 8-megapixel camera phone to challenge cameras for on-the-go snapping, with help from one Nick Turpin

To us, the Samsung Pixon's name sounds like it was chosen to reflect the phone's camera capabilities, sounding something like a mix between 'pictures' and 'megapixels'. You'll certainly be seeing this played up in the promotion, with a website dedicated to the adventures of one Nick Turpin, a professional street photographer let loose with the 8-megapixel-packing Pixon to see if a phone can truly challenge cameras for on-the-hoof, off-the-cuffsnapping. We'll be following this one with interest, not least because we love a good highwayman-based pun more than most.

Other camera functions include a 16x zoom, although digital zooms aren't worth the circuit board they're printed on. This Craver also has the same low opinion of smile shot wherever it rears its vacantly grinning head, but each to their own. Shake reduction is included, but as leaked details are still a bit sketchy we don't know the specifics. There's a dual power LED flash, which is good for those dark nights in pubs and clubs. To view the pictures, there's a photo browser that uses the built-in accelerometer to automatically rotate images to the correct orientation.

There's a video option too, with both video and photo upload are integrated into the phone. Video is supported by something called 'virtual 5.1 channel' surround sound, which frankly sounds very suspect to us.

Oh, and it also makes phone calls, so you've got HSDPA Quad-Band 7.2Mbps connectivity. It's controlled with an 81mm (3.2-inch) touchscreen, in a frame only 13.8mm thick. That's quite a bit of camera in such a little phone. -Rich Trenholm